Gokoin Temple: Amitabha Buddha
Cypress wood
Gokoin Temple: Amitabha Buddha
JAPAN, Nara; Kamakura period
The statue is reputed to be a replica of one of the two statues made by Master Shandao that had been brought back from China during the Song dynasty (960–1279). It served as the model for a new style that would become popular in Japan. The head and body are carved from a single block of cypress wood that was then hollowed. The surface was once gilded and the face painted with layers of lacquer. The figure is listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1964.
The large head with its child-like features is enveloped by a multi-layered usnisa. The statue depicts Dharmakara Bodhisattva contemplating the creation of a Pure Land before becoming Amitabha Buddha. The figure wears monastic robes that cover the shoulders, hands and crossed legs. The eyes are closed in an expression of deep concentration and a hollow circular nimbus frames the head from behind.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture G-M, page 375.
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 = 375,
title = {{Gokoin Temple: Amitabha Buddha}},
volume = 11,
year = {2016}}