Production Process of the Golden Amitabha Buddha

Foreword
Buddhism teaches that after enlightenment, Buddha was suffused with gold from head to toe. In paintings, the completely golden figure of Buddha was rendered using a decorative technique whereby thinly cut gold leaf is applied over a ground of gold paint.Used together, the gold leaf and paint create a strikingly brilliant effect. This exhibition introduces this technique through step-by-step reproductions of Amitabha Buddha, a painting in the museum collection.

The original hanging scroll was painted in the 14th century during the Kamakura period. Models in this exhibition demonstrate the production process in five stages, using pigments similar to those in the original. Materials used for the golden decorationare also introduced.

These models aim to faithfully demonstrate the techniques used to produce the original painting. Through looking at the original work closely with the help of the models, we hope visitors will gain a deeper understanding of Japanese Buddhist painting.

We give our heartfelt thanks to the student volunteer Yuko Takeda at Tokyo University of the Arts who produced the models, as well as to all who contributed to this exhibit.