如来

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 如来(にょらい) is a Buddhist noun referring to a Tathagata, or Buddha.
• Basic usage: A carved figure appears in 木造の如来像, while the subject of a painting appears in 如来を描いた絵.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Figure and statue
  • 如来 refers to a Tathagata or Buddha, while 如来像 refers to a statue or image representing one.
• Compound and object
  • Attach it directly in 如来像 to name the image, and use 如来を when it is what a painting depicts.