Image: Okura Museum of Art, Tokyo
The Okura Museum of Art in Tokyo is showcasing a National Treasure statue of the Buddha Samantabhadra riding an elephant, a work from the late Heian period that is known for its elegant and serene expression. The sculpture is presented as part of the museum’s 'Prayers and Salvation' exhibition, which focuses on the spiritual and artistic significance of treasured Buddhist statues.
According to the museum, the work exemplifies the aesthetic ideals associated with the Heian era, when Buddhist imagery often combined devotional function with refined visual form. The image of Samantabhadra, one of the key bodhisattvas in Buddhist tradition, riding an elephant is among the best-known iconographies in Japanese sculpture, and the National Treasure designation marks the object as one of exceptional cultural importance.
The exhibition places the statue within a broader examination of Buddhist works that have been valued not only for religious use but also for their artistic qualities and historical preservation. By bringing together objects described as treasured Buddhist statues, 'Prayers and Salvation' frames these works as both sacred images and major achievements in the history of Japanese art.
The Okura Museum of Art, located in Tokyo, is presenting the exhibition under its own institutional program. The museum’s announcement does not provide additional curatorial details in the source material, but it identifies the Samantabhadra statue as a central highlight of the display.
The late Heian period, generally associated with a highly developed court culture and sophisticated artistic production, is a significant context for the sculpture’s reputation. The museum emphasizes the statue’s calm expression and refined presence, qualities that have helped define the work’s standing within Japanese Buddhist art.
'Prayers and Salvation' is therefore presented as an opportunity to view a major Buddhist masterpiece in relation to the spiritual traditions and artistic standards that shaped it. The exhibition includes the National Treasure statue of Samantabhadra riding an elephant as one of its featured works.
