National Treasure Hall

The Ten Great Disciples  (National Treasures)

Subodai

This statue is now identified as Subodai (Skt. Subhūti), one of the Ten Great Disciples of the historical Buddha, Shaka Nyorai (Skt. Śākyamuni). Dated to 734, it was made using the hollow-core dry-lacquer technique.

The current identification of the image is highly questionable, since it depicts a cheerful young monk with smooth skin who closely matches canonical descriptions of the Buddha’s disciple Anan (Skt. Ānanda). Renowned for his memory, Anan is credited with having memorized every single one of the Buddha’s sermons. He thus played a central role in the codification of the Buddha’s teachings, and the creation of the first canon of Buddhist scriptures. Following the Buddha’s death, Anan is said to have attained full awakening shortly before the First Buddhist Council was held sometime around 400 BC.

Furuna

This statue depicts Furuna, one of the Ten Great Disciples of the historical Buddha, Shaka Nyorai (Skt. Śākyamuni).

Known as Pūrṇa in Sanskrit, Furuna was renowned among the Buddha’s disciples as the greatest preacher of the Dharma, or Buddhist teaching. Here, Furuna is depicted as a senior monk, whose wrinkled face is mirrored by the many folds of his robes. Both the way his robes are draped around his body, and the expression on his face as he gazes off to his right display a high degree of realism.

Like all the statues of the Ten Great Disciples, this work is dated to 734 and was made using the hollow-core dry-lacquer technique.

Ragora

Like all the statues of the Ten Great Disciples of the historical Buddha, this work is dated to 734 and was made using the hollow-core dry-lacquer technique. The image is now identified as Ragora, though its tightly closed eyes suggest that it may originally have been intended to portray the blind monk Anaritsu (Skt. Aniruddha)

Known as Rāhula in Sanskrit, Ragora was the son of Siddhārtha Gautama (as the Buddha was called before leaving home and attaining religious awakening) and his wife, Princess Yaśodharā. While still a child, Ragora convinced his father to allow him to join the community of monks and nuns, thereby establishing the tradition that children under the age of twenty could be ordained and trained as novices. Following his ordination, he continued to study under the Buddha, and finally attained full awakening. Ragora became renowned among the Buddha’s disciples for his patience, eagerness, and learning.