The Buddha Amida Coming over the Mountain
Kamakura period, 13th century (National Treasure, Lent by Zenrinji Temple, Kyoto)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
February 16, 2021 (Tue) - March 14, 2021 (Sun)
This painting depicts the Buddha Amida within a landscape that would have felt familiar to people of the time. It is different from typical images of this Buddha featuring glorious scenes of the Pure Land, the Buddhist paradise where he resides. Meanwhile, the Sanskrit character on the top left corner represents Buddha Dainichi (Mahavairocana). This painting therefore suggests that the two deities ― the Buddha Amida and the Buddha Dainichi ― are essentially the same, and that the very world we live in is the Pure Land.
Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
Highlight | National Treasure | The Buddha Amida Coming over the Mountain | Kamakura period, 13th century | Lent by Zenrinji Temple, Kyoto |