Jocho was one of Japan’s most innovative sculptors, known for developing a process called joined-wood construction. The joined-wood method involved designing a sculpture in sections, each carved from a separate block of wood. These blocks were hollowed and then assembled. This process allowed for larger, lighter sculptures that were less likely to warp and crack. During the Heian period, Jocho created a joined-wood raigo sculpture of the Amida Buddha that evokes the rich complexity of Western Paradise and is housed at the heart of Byodo-in.