Amida Nyorai

Description

This is a representation of the Amida Nyorai. He can be identified by the typical gesture, ‘dhyanimudra’, with his hands resting on his knees, palm upwards, the thumb and forefinger of each hand touching to form a circle. The nikkei-shu (red jewel) on the protrusion at the top of the Buddha’s head is recognisable.

Amida is one of the highest figures in Japanese Buddhism. He is the central deity of the popular Pure Land doctrine in Japan and the ruler of the Land of bliss. For followers of the Japanese Pure Land cult, Amida has eclipsed the historical Buddha as the most popular deity in Japan’s Mahayana traditions. Even today, the Pure Land cult is among the largest and most popular in the country.

The figure is made of wood and was created using the technique of separation and assembly known as warihagi, a technique developed in the tenth century and notably popularised by the famous sculptor Jōchō. This consists of separating the different parts of the statue, hollowing them out and then joining them.

The delicate sculpture of the drapery and the serenity that emanates from this Amida are remarkable, making it a refined piece.

Provenance: Belgian private collection.