Clay Statue Tableaux

At the base of Horyuji's five-story pagoda are four cave-like alcoves dating from 711, housing 97 clay figures arranged in scenes from the life of the Buddha. On the north side, the dying Buddha is surrounded by weeping disciples, one of whom is shown checking the Buddha's pulse. The east side depicts the layman Yuima in religious debate with the bodhisattva Monju. The west side shows the distribution of the Buddha's relics among eight tribes after his death, and the south presents the future Buddha, Maitreya, delivering his first sermon after achieving enlightenment. The expressive faces of the mourning figures on the north side are particularly striking.