Attributes & Implements Dictionary | Japonista Archive
BUDDHIST STATUES & SACRED ART · ATTRIBUTES
Objects Held · Meaning · Identification
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Pillar context: Buddhist Statues & Sacred Art (Pillar)
This page functions as a working dictionary of the objects held by Buddhist figures. Attributes are not decoration—they narrow identity, clarify role, and anchor iconography.
How to Read Attributes
Attributes must align with gesture, family, and context. An object alone never proves identity.
Common Attributes (Selected)
- Staff: guidance, protection, boundary-setting
- Jewel: wish-fulfillment, teaching, spiritual wealth
- Sword: cutting through ignorance
- Lotus: purity and emergence
- Rope / Cord: binding obstacles or guiding beings
- Medicine Jar: healing and restoration
What to Watch For
- Broken attachment points where an object once existed.
- Mismatched modern replacements.
- Attributes inconsistent with family or role.
Identification Rule
Curator’s Note: If the attribute contradicts the family, question the identification—not the object.