Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

This life-sized statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was carved in the round from a single log of Japanese nutmeg wood in the 10th century, during the Heian period (794–1185). Its distinctive facial features and stately physique, along with the aureole resembling those found in statues from Nara, lead experts to think that this piece was typical of Buddhist statuary from the Kyoto area. Representing a trend in Heian-period Buddhist sculpture created in and around Kyoto, it is an important artifact to compare with other statuary.

— Museum description: Kyushu National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.