Miroku Bosatsu

Miroku (弥勒) is the Buddha of the future. He waits in the Tushita heaven and will descend to teach when the age of Shaka has run its course, after an almost unimaginable span often given as five billion six hundred and seventy million years. Because he is both a bodhisattva now and a buddha to come, he is shown in two quite different ways.

Japanese 弥勒菩薩, Miroku Bosatsu; 弥勒如来, Miroku Nyorai
Sanskrit Maitreya
Rank Bodhisattva, and future buddha
Recognise by The pensive pose, one leg crossed, a finger to the cheek; or a small stupa in the crown or hand
Memorial rite The 42nd day, in the Thirteen Buddhas

The pensive bodhisattva

The most celebrated images of Miroku show him seated with the right leg crossed over the left knee, the right fingers lightly touching the cheek, absorbed in contemplation of how to save the world. This half-lotus pensive pose, hankashiyui, came to Japan from the Korean peninsula in the seventh century. The wooden figure at Kōryūji in Kyoto, carved in red pine, and the dark, polished figure at Chūgūji in Nara, which the nunnery honours as Nyoirin Kannon, are among the most loved sculptures in Japan.

Miroku as a buddha

From the Heian period onwards Miroku also appears as a seated buddha, Miroku Nyorai, in plain robes, distinguished by context or by a small stupa. The Miroku of the North Octagonal Hall at Kōfukuji, carved by Unkei and his workshop in the early thirteenth century, is the masterpiece of this form.

Miroku and Hotei

In China, the wandering monk Budai, known in Japan as Hotei, came to be regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya, and the laughing, pot-bellied Hotei is often called the Laughing Buddha. Japanese collectors meet both faces of Miroku: the contemplative and the jovial.

Collecting notes

  • Pensive figures are widely reproduced in bronze and wood after the Kōryūji and Chūgūji models. Period, carving quality and finish separate devotional work from souvenirs.
  • Miroku belief inspired the burial of sutras for the future age. Sutra containers and their fragments are a specialist field.

In the collection

Search the collection for Miroku or browse Buddhist Statues and Sacred Art. Our collector concierge can search Japan for a pensive figure.

See also

Submit Your Case File

Every bespoke partnership begins with clarity. Tell us what you seek, what inspired you, and the boundaries of your project.


What Happens After You Submit

Your Case File is reviewed personally by a senior advisor. We examine your objectives, logistics requirements, cultural considerations, and practical constraints. You will receive a tailored proposal outlining recommended services, timelines, and all applicable fees.

  • Bespoke service design tailored to your specific needs
  • Museum-grade logistics for art, antiques, fashion, and collectibles
  • Transparent partnership with no hidden or surprise costs

“All fees, deposits, and retainers will be clearly presented for approval before any work begins.”

Your Case File

Please complete the form carefully. The more precise your information, the more accurately we can prepare your assessment.

All fields are required to submit this form.

Kindly allow us a brief moment to review your submission. A senior advisor will be in touch with your personalised next steps.

Thank you for entrusting us with your vision. We look forward to representing you with precision and discretion.