Japan's iconographical material covers Buddhism, Shintoism and a few other smaller sects in that country. Yet, Buddhist iconography sculptural and in painting constitutes by far the greatest in number and variety. In that, however, sculptural art occupies the most part. Further, again, wood sculpture in that land of wood-yielding vegetation, forms the greater measure of iconographic material. In fact, Japan is not so fortunate in the availability of stone that can stand fine chiselling or carving, as China and India. With this background it is but reasonably justified that specialistic study of stone sculpture in icons and other subjects is undertaken and brought to the notice of scholars and the lay public. In doing so, the available stone material: early artefacts, religious icons and other subjects have been presented here in eight Sections and a Map. The Sections deal with Early Artefacts, Decorative Sculptures, Lanterns, Pagodas, Engravings, Buddha Images, Images of the Buddhist Pantheon and Biku, Bikuni & Rakans. The approach followed is one of stating briefly the historical periods to which they belong, the styles adopted and the environment in which they were produced and placed. Each one of the pieces discussed is illustrated, barring only a few. The over-all survey made of the sculptures of the Buddha and the Buddhist pantheon in stone in Japan is a unique contribution to the study of Buddhist iconography in general and that in Japan in particular.
