Features of the face of Buddha statues: 

1) Hairstyle: The head is tightly covered with small spiral shapes of hair. This is called “Rahatsu”.  On the top of the Rahatsu hair is a round bun. This is called “Nikkei”. It stores the wisdom of Buddha Amida. The front of the Nikkei is adorned with a small red or transparent ball. This is called “Nikkeisyu,” representing the light of wisdom. 

2) Forehead:  In the center of the forehead is a mole-like feature made of one long white hair in a rounded shape. It gives off light to the world and is called “Byakugo.”  

3) Neck: There are three wrinkles on the neck called “Sando,” which, according to one theory, represent three steps to enlightenment. 

4) Eyes: The face of Buddha statues is mostly expressionless, with the eyes half-open. This style is called “Hangan” and represents a meditative state, with the mind deeply calm.

Four Ranks of Buddha Statues

The world of Buddhist statues has its own ranking system. At the top is Nyorai, the figure of Buddha at the stage of enlightenment. There are also other Nyorai. Next is Bosatsu, who is on the path to becoming Nyorai. Every Bosatsu dedicates all their efforts to saving people. The third rank is Myo-o, characterized by an angry face. They scold people to lead them on the right path. The last rank is Ten. They are guardian gods in the Buddhist world. They were originally gods of ancient Brahmanism or Hinduism.