The infant Shotoku Taishi is made of carved wood and black lacquer, white and red pigments, and inlaid eyes. The computed tomography scan reveals that the figure was constructed from several different blocks of wood. Metal braces and nails were likely inserted later to reinforce the joins—can you see one such repair located on the back of the skirt?

Wood expands and contracts with variations in humidity. Over time, the lacquer has lifted and some lacquer has been lost on the forearms. To stabilize these areas—located on the image as yellow circles—a small syringe was used to inject adhesive under the edges. The adhesive was selected for its excellent aging properties and its compatibility with wood and lacquer.