Edo Period figure
- Gallery: Room 93
- Culture: Edo Period
- Made in: Japan
- Date: 1675-1725
- Object type: figure
- Materials: wood; lacquer; mineral
- Museum number: 1885,1227.98
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
In this Edo Period figure, you see a retired townsman seated calmly in formal dress. His head is shaved, a common symbol of adopting Buddhist vows, and his hands rest on his lap. The figure is carved from wood and covered in lacquer and paint, with striking crystal eyes that give it a surprisingly human expression.
This portrait reflects a tradition among prosperous townsmen who, in retirement, would take Buddhist names and simplify their appearance. Whether they remained active in secular life or not, they wished to honor their spiritual identity.
The figure is made using a classic Japanese sculpting method called yosegi construction, where separate carved pieces are joined to form the body. Crystal eyes with painted pupils make the figure feel alive and observant.
This artwork was donated to the collection in 1885 by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks.
See it in person
Edo Period figure is on display in Room 93 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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