National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

The Hokeiji Stone Images of Buddha were enshrined in the Shippodai of Kotakuji Temple, which was built on the premises of Changan Castle by Empress Wu Zetian, the only empress in the history of China. At present, a total of over 30 small stone shrines exist in two types: A one-deity type with an eleven-headed standing Kannon image like this one and a trinity type with Amitaba Tathagata, Miroku Tathagata or Tathagata making a goma-in sign (a sign to expel evil) as the central deity. Since some of the images among the Hokeiji Stone Images of Buddha bear the inscription of "703 to 704," it can be said that this image was also created during these years.