Amitabha Buddha
Ink and color on silk
Amitabha Buddha
CHINA; Southern Song dynasty
This picture of Amitabha Buddha is a good example of the painting style that was popular in China during the Southern Song dynasty (960–1279). Many similar images were produced in Jiangnan (region south of the Yangtze River) at the time; some were brought to Japan and Korea along with the spread of Buddhism, and had a large influence on later Buddhist art. This image was brought to Japan, and was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1901.
Amitabha Buddha, with a low usnisa, stands on two lotuses and gazes downward. The right hand is held out in a mudra. The Buddha wears a dark green inner robe and a red monastic robe adorned with gold patterns. Swirling clouds are painted behind the petal-shaped mandorla.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting A-H, page 26.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youlu and Wilson, Graham and Manho and Mankuang and Huntington, Susan,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Painting A-H},
pages = 26,
title = {{Amitabha Buddha}},
volume = 14,
year = {2016}}