Wooden sitting statue of Yakushi Nyorai (prefectural important cultural property)

Passing through the Niomon Gate of Myokoji Temple on the north bank of the Misasa River, you will come to the Yakushi Hall at the rear left of the main hall, where the Yakushi statue fills the entire hall. The statue sits cross-legged, with palms forward, right hand raised, and left hand receiving the medicine jar, a typical Yakushi Nyorai figure. The medicine jar has now been lost, but the two attendants on either side, Gakko Bosatsu and Nikko Bosatsu, indicate that this is Yakushi Nyorai. This Yakushi statue, the largest seated statue in the city, is made of inlaid wood, with each part of the statue joined together with iron lacquer. The surface of the statue is made using a technique called shippaku, in which gold leaf is laid over lacquer, and the faint gold leaf remaining around the chest area recalls the statue's former opulence. According to temple legend, there was originally a large temple called Shomyoin Yakushiji on this site, but during the time of Fukushima Masanori, the temple's land was confiscated and it fell into decline. The Yakushido Hall that remains in a corner of Myokoji Temple today was also located at Shomyoin. This Yakushi statue has long been affectionately known to the people as "Oyakussan," and it is said that on the day it is open to the public every year on May 8th, many pilgrims gather there. During conservation and repair work carried out from 1994, ink inscription was found on the back of the head, identifying the statue as having been made in 1530. Date of designation: April 30, 1971 Overview: Inlaid wood construction, lacquered leaf, height 270cm, knee support 237cm, shoulder support 145cm