奈良 中宮寺 木造菩薩半跏思惟像, 한국과 일본의 두 미륵보살

Camphor Wood Statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva at Chūgū-ji in Nara Prefecture, Japan 

日本國 奈良 中宮寺 木造菩薩半跏思惟像 / 일본 나라 중궁사 목조 미륵보살반가사유상 

This statue (the first and second photos ), a national treasure of Japan, is now enshrined in the temple of Chūgū-ji (中宮寺) in Nara Prefecture. Dating back to the Asuka period, the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, Miroku Bosatsu in Japanese pronunciation was exhibited at the National Museum of Korea a few years ago, alongside with Gilt-bronze Maitreya in Meditation, the National Treasure No. 78 of Korea. Formerly painted, it is finished in lacquer.

Maitreya Bodhisattva is a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology.  

The next statue is gilt-bronze Maitreya in Meditation, the National Treasure No. 78 of Korea, housed at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul.