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Image of Yakushi Nyorai

When Tōji was founded, its main image of worship was of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing and medicine. Devotion to Yakushi was among the first to spread in Japan after the introduction of Buddhism from the Asian mainland in the sixth century. As a Buddha of healing, Yakushi Nyorai offers not only salvation in the next world but relief from pain and suffering in this one.

This image of Yakushi was created in 1603 by the master sculptor Kōshō (1534–1621) and is based on older iconography. It was commissioned when the hall was rebuilt after the fire of 1486. The statue is carved from Japanese cypress and covered in lacquer and gold leaf. Surrounding Yakushi’s head like a halo are the Seven Buddhas of Medicine, said to be aspects of his divinity. Around the base of the statue stand the Twelve Heavenly Generals, a group of fierce celestial beings that serve as his protectors. Yakushi is flanked by two attendants, bodhisattvas representing sunlight and moonlight.

藥師如來像

掌管癒病除疾的藥師如來，在東寺創建之初曾被視為主要尊奉對象。自6世紀佛教從亞洲大陸傳入後，藥師如來便成為最早在日本聲名遠播的信仰。作為療癒之佛，藥師如來不僅能保佑來世的安泰，更能救贖現世之苦痛。

東寺曾於1486年遭逢祝融之災。1603年，金堂重建，其中的藥師如來像，則由佛師（佛像雕刻師）康正（1534-1621），以舊圖為基礎雕刻而成。該佛像以日本扁柏為材，採用「寄木造」手法製作——即先分段雕刻，再拼接合體，且表面塗漆，貼以金箔。此外，光背（佛教或基督教藝術中，呈現神佛或聖人後方散發光明的視覺效果）處更刻有佛像七尊，故亦被稱為「七佛藥師如來」。台座周圍，日光、月光菩薩靜立兩側，十二神將則鎮守八方。

药师如来像

东寺创建之初，掌管愈病除疾的药师如来被视为主要尊奉对象。佛教自6世纪从亚洲大陆传入后，药师如来便成为最早在日本开枝散叶的信仰。作为疗愈之佛，药师如来不仅能佑来世安泰，更能渡现世疾苦。

1486年，东寺遭逢火灾。1603年，金堂重建，其中的药师如来像，则由佛师（佛像雕刻师）康正（1534-1621），以旧图为基础刻制而成。该佛像以日本扁柏为材，采用先分段雕刻、再拼接合体的“寄木造”手法制作，且表面涂漆，贴以金箔。此外，光背（佛教或基督教艺术中，呈现神佛或圣人后方散发光明的视觉效果）处更刻有佛像七尊，故又被称为“七佛药师如来”。台座周围，十二神将环守八方；而日光、月光菩萨则静立两侧。