A national treasure (designated June 27, 1996 )

　Shojoji's statue of the healing Buddha is one-of-a-kind. Measuring 1.37 meters in height, the wooden statue was carved from a large trunk of zelkova. After being carved, the statue was then split in half front-to-back, hollowed out, rejoined, and lacquered to form the statue. Most of the detail of the carving is still in remarkably good condition, and in this detail, one can see stylistic elements from the early Heian period which attempted to preserve the style of the earlier Nara period (late eighth century). The sculptor's combination of solemnity and majesty is superb.

　Through the ages, the halo has suffered some damage and loss, but originally, it was a beautiful arabesque in the classic Heian period style. The halo depicts a heavenly paradise of interwoven grape　leaves carved in relief, adorned with a host of several flying angels (hiten). Today, only one of those accompanying angels remains attached.

　This Healing Buddha is the principal statue of the present Buddha hall. Previously, this was the principal image of the Great Hall until it was moved to the Buddha hall in the early 1400s.

Yakushi nyorai