# Buddha of the Future (Miroku Bosatsu)

- Date: late 600s
- Medium: cast bronze, incised, with traces of gilding
- Classification: Sculpture
- Dimensions: Overall: 45.8 cm (18 1/16 in.); Figure: 39.4 cm (15 1/2 in.)
- Culture: Japan, Asuka period (538–710)
- Credit line: John L. Severance Fund
- Museum: [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://clevelandart.org/art/1950.86)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1950.86/1950.86_web.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century. For early Japanese devotees, Buddhism offered the promise of salvation through faith in the Buddha of the Future, who would appear at the end of the world. The concept of eternal salvation held particular resonance with the Japanese aristocracy, who became the staunchest supporters of this new faith. Small sculptures like this one, with its gentle grace and powerful presence, were popular devotional objects.