Hogonji Temple: Embroidery of Amitabha Buddha
Silk
Hogonji Temple: Embroidery of Amitabha Buddha
JAPAN, Shiga, Nagahama; Kamakura period
This silk embroidery uses a range of colored threads to depict the scene of Amitabha Buddha coming to greet the deceased in the Pure Land. It was listed as an Important Cultural Property in 1900.
The embroidery shows Amitabha Buddha standing on a cloud with two attendant Bodhisattvas. The Buddha has a nimbus with light radiating out from it. He is performing the vitarka (teaching) mudra with his right hand, while the left hand is held down by his side. The Bodhisattva on the right holds a lotus, while the one on the left has palms joined. There are three rows of Sanskrit seed syllables embroidered at the top. Sanskrit seed syllables representing Amitabha’s 48 wishes form the border of the embroidery.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 123.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 123,
title = {{Hogonji Temple: Embroidery of Amitabha Buddha}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}