The standing Buddha Amitabha (Amida Nyorai)
Place of OriginJapan
Dateapprox. 1150
PeriodHeian period (794-1185)
MaterialsWood with lacquer, gilding, and rock crystal inlay
DimensionsH. 56 in x Diam. 20 1/2 in, H. 142.2 cm x Diam. 52.1 cm (overall); H. 17 1/8 in x W. 20 5/8 in (pedestal)
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB60S338
DepartmentJapanese Art
ClassificationsSculpture
On View
On viewLocationGallery 26
More InformationAmitabha, the buddha of the Western Paradise, wears a monk’s robe and stands in concentration with eyes half-closed. His palms face outward with the tips of both index fingers and thumbs touching. This hand gesture signifies Amitabha’s descent to the earth to welcome the souls of the deceased to his paradise, as the Pure Land School of Buddhism teaches. Pure Land Buddhism was popular in Japan during and after the twelfth century, and many paintings and sculptures of Amitabha were created in this tradition.
Subject
- Buddha
- Buddhism
approx. 975-1025
approx. 1150-1185
approx. 1200-1300
approx. 1615-1700
perhaps 1400-1500
approx. 1800-1900
approx. 1800-1900
approx. 1900
approx. 1800-1850