Amitabha Buddha and Bodhisattvas

JAPAN; Nanbokucho period

This 14th century artwork is made up of three panels showing the descent of Amitabha Buddha and Bodhisattvas to welcome a deceased being to the Pure Land. Amitabha Buddha is shown standing on lotus pedestals above clouds in the central panel. The Buddha probably forms the abhaya (fearlessness) mudra with the right hand and the varada (wish-granting) mudra with the left. Fine lines of radiant light emanate from the nimbus. Below the Buddha, there are four Bodhisattvas including Avalokitesvara, who holds a lotus pedestal for the deceased, and Mahasthamaprapta, who joins palms in reverence.
In both of the side panels, which roughly mirror each other, there are depictions of golden Bodhisattvas who dance or play musical instruments including the pipa, hand drum, waist drum, dizi, end-blown flute, cymbals, ancient harp, and panpipe. Bare-headed, pale Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva stands on the far side of each panel.