During the Edo period (1603-1867), the shape and dignity of the main halls of temples were standardized, and splendid Buddhist statues made in Kamigata (Kyoto) and Edo (now Tokyo) were enshrined as the principal image in temples throughout Japan. Unlike the main image, which has a neat face and figure, these folk Buddhas were made by carpenters and woodworkers, not Buddhist priests or makers, and are not decorated with glittering ornaments.
Their poor carvings and awkward proportions are not only unique but also reflect the sentiments and prayers of the people of Michinoku, who live in the harsh climate of the region.
This exhibition introduces approximately 130 unique wooden statues that have been created in the northern Tohoku region of Aomori, Iwate, and Akita, and that have listened to the concerns and prayers of the people, and consider the form of Japanese religious belief.