Cleveland Museum of Art

Buddha of the Future (Miroku Bosatsu)

Date

late 600s

Medium

cast bronze, incised, with traces of gilding

Culture

Japan, Asuka period (538–710)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. For early Japanese devotees, Buddhism offered the promise of salvation through faith in the Buddha of the Future, who would appear at the end of the world. The concept of eternal salvation held particular resonance with the Japanese aristocracy, who became the staunchest supporters of this new faith. Small sculptures like this one, with its gentle grace and powerful presence, were popular devotional objects. The Sanskrit name of this being, Maitreya, derives from the Sanskrit word for friend, mita .

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