Keywords
Art History
Sculpture
A style of wearing a Buddhist robe where the right shoulder is exposed. Frequently seen on *nyorai 如来 statues, especially seated figures. Originally derived from an Indian custom, where a priest would slip his robe off his right shoulder in order to show respect. In Japanese images the robe is often shown slipping down slightly on the right side, without exposing the whole shoulder. A typical example is the Renben senkoku Shaka nyouraizō 蓮弁線刻釈迦如来像 (746) of Tōdaiji *Daibutsu 東大寺大仏 in Nara.