STATUE OF THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST BY JOHN, Azuchi-Momoyama Period（1573–1603CE）

This piece is a wooden sculpture of the Baptism of Christ by John, created during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1603 CE). The composition depicts the moment of "Baptisma no Yohane," where John the Baptist administers baptism to Jesus. John gently places his hand upon Jesus's head, while Jesus quietly receives this gesture. This scene is likely inspired by Chapter 3 of the Gospel of Luke. Notably, the C-shaped composition and shallow relief echo early Western prints, beautifully intertwining the warmth of Jesus with the sanctity of the baptism.

On the reverse side, there is an old paper label inscribed with "Numata excavated." Numata, located in Gunma Prefecture, was home to the Buddhist temple of the Christian daimyo Otomo during the Warring States period and is considered one of the centers where Christianity took root in the Kanto Plain. The region was a conduit for faith, with roads leading to the North Country Highway and the Ashio Mine, facilitating the flow of both people and belief. Furthermore, records in the shogunate's apprehension logs indicate that many Christians emerged from Numata, making this area a veritable crossroads of faith.

Due to its small size, this sculpture has likely found a place deep within daily life, positioned beside altars or in small prayer spaces, where it has been touched by hands over time, resonating with the hearts of the faithful. Although some of the coloration has worn away, traces of deep green and gold remain, adding depth and shadow to the figures' expressions and forms. Bathed in light, the warmth of the wood seems to rise, evoking a sense of narrative within this sacred relic. The restrained expressions and gentle movements suggest that faith transcends form, existing as a state of the soul. Under the flickering candlelight, the hushed repetitions of nightly orations resonate, revealing the quiet traces of a prayer that connects the foreign gospel with the land of Japan.