Collecting Ethics & Stewardship Standards | Japonista Archive
BUDDHIST STATUES & SACRED ART · STEWARDSHIP
A Non-Decorative Framework for Sacred Objects
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Pillar context: Buddhist Statues & Sacred Art (Pillar)
Curator’s Note: Buddhist statues are religious objects, not decor. This guide sets rules for respectful acquisition, disclosure, placement, and long-term stewardship.
Core Principle
Do not “upgrade” sacred objects for aesthetics. Preserve intent, preserve age, preserve meaning.
Standard 1: Context First
Before you name a figure, confirm family and role:
- Nyorai — teaching / awakened presence
- Bosatsu — compassion / responsive aid
- Myoo — protection / transformative force
- Tenbu — guardianship / attendants
Mislabeling creates false history and encourages careless handling.
Standard 2: Respectful Placement
- Never casual floor display.
- Avoid cluttered “decor styling.”
- Keep accessories minimal, stable, and intentional.
- Treat placement as ritual-aware, even in private collections.
Standard 3: Conservation Without Rewriting
- Avoid polishing, aggressive cleaning, or “brightening.”
- Avoid repainting that alters iconographic cues.
- Prefer reversible conservation when needed.
- Document all interventions honestly.
Standard 4: Disclosure Discipline
A credible archive states:
- what is original vs restored
- what is missing (attributes, hands, halos)
- what is uncertain (identification, period)
- what is modern replacement
Aesthetic language must never replace factual condition reporting.
Standard 5: Acquisition Ethics (Market Reality)
Avoid objects with:
- suspicious new surfaces masking age
- heavy modern repainting presented as “patina”
- implausible combinations of attributes and roles
- unclear provenance paired with exaggerated claims
If uncertainty is high, do not force certainty.
Stewardship Checklist (Quick)
- Identify family and role.
- Confirm with mudra and attributes.
- Evaluate materials and surface honesty.
- Report condition without euphemism.
- Store and display respectfully.