– 7 –
„jobon gesho“ gesture, one of nine different
„mudras“ (hand gestures) which determine
the nine possible paths for the dying to enter
paradise.
At the end of the 10th century, „Pure Land Bud-
dhism“ developed, centred on the worship of
the „Amida Buddha“, also known as the Buddha
of Immeasurable Light and Buddha of Limitless
Life. Amida presided over a heavenly paradise
and promised salvation and rebirth in his pa-
radise for all worshippers.
„Amida Buddha“ was usually depicted sit-
ting on a lotus flower. From the 12th century
onwards, however, he was often shown in a
standing pose, descending from the heavens
to fetch his devotees and personally transport
them back to his blissful paradise. This concept
was first introduced in the Ojoyoshu of 985
(„The Essentials of Pure Land Salvation“), an
immensely popular compendium written by
the monk Genshin (942–1017), which prescribed
a standing statue of about a metre in height
to be erected for one’s last rights to ensure a
smooth passage to the „Pure Land“.
H: 39,3 cm (figure); 77 cm (overall hight)
Provenance
Perrett & Fils & Vibert, Paris, France
Hans Heinrich Josef Meyer (1858-1929), Leipzig,
Germany
By descent through the family
Vgl. Lit.: NGV, Art Journal, Wayne Crothers, Ja-
panese Amida Buddha, 30 Jan 2013
€ 5.000 - 12.000
Photo: Private Archive