Wood identification of Japanese and Chinese wooden statues owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA

Abstract

Precious cultural assets of East Asia are found worldwide and hold many important art-historical meanings, for example Buddhist statues. In this study, we conducted wood identification of Japanese and Chinese statues owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA. From the eight Japanese wood sculptures and one Chinese sculpture, 15 samples were collected. The anatomical features of these 15 samples were scrutinized using synchrotron X-ray microtomography or conventional optical microscopy. The results showed that the eight Japanese statues were made from Chamaecyparis obtusa, except for the base of one Japanese statue that was made from Cryptomeria japonica. Both species are important conifers in Japan. In contrast, the Chinese statue was made from hardwood, Paulownia sp.