Hokaiji Temple Amitabha Hall: Amitabha Buddha
Cypress wood
Hokaiji Temple Amitabha Hall: Amitabha Buddha
JAPAN, Kyoto; Heian period
The statue is in the Jocho style, carved at the turn of the 12th century. The different parts of the body were carved separately, hollowed out, and then joined. The statue is 280 cm high while the lotus throne and its pedestal is 161.2 cm. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1952.
Amitabha is seated on a four-tier lotus throne that is supported on a nine-layered octagonal base. The figure is in full lotus position and displays the mudra showing the highest grade of the highest class. There are seated apsaras whose floating stoles form the edge of the openwork outer border of the mandorla. The mandorla encloses an interlocking nimbus and aureole.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 433.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M},
pages = 433,
title = {{Hokaiji Temple Amitabha Hall: Amitabha Buddha}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}