Moment of Stillness

An elderly Japanese man with a charming face rests on a log. Made in Japan during the Meiji period, this copper statue evokes simple contentment.

Clad in a flowing robe, the man holds a bento in one hand, a teacup in the other. A teapot and a work-knife rest nearby. Around his waist is a small pouch, and his feet are shod in a pair of simple straw sandals. The man has poignant eyes and a peaceful expression. His forehead emits a bright aura.

This statue is delicately crafted, vivid and lifelike. It captures the sweetness of simple pleasures and the deep soulfulness of a hardworking commoner. In depicting a moment of contemplative stillness, it brings all who look upon it a sense of lasting peaceand a reverence for the unadorned beauty of life.