Yakushi Nyorai (God of Medicine)

Yakushi Nyorai — the Medicine Buddha, the Tathagata of healing, whose lapis-lazuli body radiates healing light and whose vow encompasses the curing of all physical and mental suffering — appears in this 1937 print from Munakata's great Buddhist year. Yakushi (Bhaisajyaguru) was widely venerated in Japan as the Buddha of health and protection from disease, and his temples were among the most visited of all Buddhist sites. Munakata's rendering of the Medicine Buddha brought his characteristic carving energy to a figure of compassionate, healing power — the knife's energy in service of the deity whose vow was the easing of all suffering.