Amida Nyorai of Jorakuji and the two attendant statues

At Joraku-ji, an ancient Tendai temple located in Higashi-Naganuma, the Amida Triad statue, designated as a cultural property by Tokyo Metropolis, is enshrined. Inside the Amida Hall (main hall), which stands to the right after entering the mountain gate, it is known as one of the oldest Buddhist statues in the city, along with the Kannon statue of Koshou-ji.
The three statues are all made of cypress wood in a joined wood construction, with heights of 78.4 cm for the central seated Amida Nyorai, 92.7 cm for the standing Kannon on the right, and 92.3 cm for the standing Seishi Bosatsu on the left.
The central seated Amida Nyorai is in the posture of lotus position (crossing both legs and placing the tops of the feet on the opposite thighs), with the right hand facing forward and the first and second fingers bent, while the left hand is palm up with the first and second fingers also bent. The curly hair (the coiled curls on the head of the Nyorai statue) is carved, and the eyes are made with inlaid eyes. The robe drapes from the right shoulder to the abdomen and wraps around the thighs and legs. Overall, it is adorned with lacquer and gold leaf over a fabric base, but the chest area shows noticeable peeling of the lacquer and gold leaf.
The structure is carved from a single piece of wood for the head and body, with a split neck (separating the head from the body by inserting a chisel under the neck) below the three grooves (three lines on the neck), and internal hollowing (hollowing out the inside of the statue) has been done. Different materials are joined at the back of the ears, the back of the body, the shoulder, elbow, and wrist of the right arm, and the cuff and wrist of the left arm.
The calm expression with downcast eyes shows characteristics of the Fujiwara period, but the slightly large curls, the somewhat dense lines of the robe, and the alternating large and small folds retain elements of an older style. The production date is considered to be around the early 12th century, a local work.
The two attendants placed on either side of the Amida Nyorai statue are the Kannon and Seishi Bosatsu statues, both of which are standing figures. The Kannon statue on the right stands upright on a pedestal, with the right hand hanging down palm forward and the left hand bent holding a lotus flower. The head is adorned with a jeweled topknot, and the eyes are made with inlaid eyes. It is draped in a cloth from the shoulder to the side and wears a skirt and waist cloth below the waist. Overall, it is adorned with lacquer and gold leaf over a fabric base.
The structure has internal hollowing, with a line connecting the back of the ears to the back of the heels.
The Seishi Bosatsu statue on the left has a similar form and structure to the Kannon statue, except that the right hand is bent and the left hand hangs down. The items held and the loose parts of the robe, as well as the toes, are believed to have been made later.
Both attendants share common techniques and facial expressions, particularly the unclear lines of the lower eyelids, indicating they were made as a set with the central figure.
During the investigation, one of the five repair wooden tags found inside the central statue was confirmed to have the inscription "In the 10th month of the 3rd year of Shoo, sculptor Yamamoto Shohei". It is known that repairs were made in the early Edo period in the 3rd year of Shoo (1654).
While all three statues show some lack of aesthetic refinement, their forms, body parts, and drapery are well-defined, making them excellent examples of local Buddhist statues in terms of craftsmanship.