ryūzō 立像

Keywords
Art History
Sculpture

Also read ritsuzō. A Buddhist image which is standing, as opposed to seated (see *zazō 坐像). Most standing images stand up straight chokuritsu 直立 in a natural manner, but there are some variations. The bronze sculptures of bodhisattvas *bosatsu 菩薩, *Nikkō Gakkō 日光・月光 at Yakushiji 薬師寺 in Nara, for example, stand in a relaxed position with most of the weight shifted onto one leg. The straight leg with the weight is called rikkyaku 立脚, and the bent leg without the weight is called yūkyaku 遊脚. Attendants of *Amida 阿弥陀 in the raigō 来迎 composition (see *raigō-zu 来迎図) which have their knees bent forward are considered to be standing images called jiritsu 侍立. The bodhisattvas *Kannon 観音 and *Seishi 勢至 in the wooden Amida triad Amida sanzon-zō 阿弥陀三尊像 from Shōrenji 青蓮寺 (1295) in Kumamoto Prefecture, are the best known examples of ryūzō. Zaō Gongen ryūzō 蔵王権現立像 sculpted in wood in Nyoirinji 如意輪寺 (1336) in Nara, has one leg raised in a stamping or running position jaritsu 邪立. A walking image *gyōzō 行像 as typified by *kinhinzō 経行像, is also considered to be a type of ryūzō and is contemplated during Buddhist meditation .