Item: Japan: Achala - Achala

Achalanata, early Heian period, crafted from cypress wood, believed to be made by Kukai himself.

Located in the Mie-do hall of To-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, this statue was believed to be the honjibutsu, or statue of personal worship, of Kobo Daishi Kukai. The sculpture is never publicly displayed and remains a 'hibutsu' (secret deity). Legend says that during the Heian period many of the construction workers that were building the temple died of unnatural causes after they viewed the statue, which forced the temple to lock the statue up, making it a 'hibutsu for life.' It is officially classified by the Japanese Government's Agency for Cultural Affairs as an important cultural property (zhuyoubunkazai).

Shinzo Shiratori 1-2022

https://kanagawabunkaken.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-94.html