Database: Representing the Buddha

Buddha images carved in caves or on rock walls have long been found throughout Buddhist regions of Asia, particularly in India and China. Huge stone Buddhas, like the ones found at Bamiyan in Afghanistan (later destroyed by the Taliban), were built by the rulers at the time. However, the construction of Buddha statues did not become popular in Japan before the 12th century, when the authority of the imperial court was severely undermined. Because they were commissioned by local lords rather than kings or emperors, Japanese statues were typically much smaller in size compared to those of India or China. The fact that there were only a few Buddha statues carved on rock walls in the central region of Japan around Kyoto and Nara is likely due to the predominance of local sculptors who worked with wood. In fact, the majority of rock wall statues were to be found in the Bungo Province in Kyushu.

It is important to note that Buddhism and Shintoism were closely intertwined in Japan and aspects of nature, like the mountains which were part of Shinto worship, were portrayed as divinities, and then as Buddhas. Reflecting the set of three temple Buddhas, a central Buddha flanked by two smaller ones to the left and right, important mountains were often attributed three peaks and were themselves considered Buddhas.