Amida Nyorai

This serenely beautiful carving of a seated Buddha can be identified as Amida (Amitabha in Sanskrit), by the tightly interlocking legs, the eyes almost closed in meditation, and the hands raised in the gesture for expounding the Buddhist law. It is one of the best examples of classic Buddhist art in the Museum's collection. The Buddhist religion was introduced to Japan during the 6th century. The earliest Buddhist images were mostly made of bronze, clay or lacquer, but from the late 8th century carved wood became the most common medium. In the later Heian period (898-1185), a number of religious sects came into being that emphasised personal salvation through faith in Amida, the form of Buddha who rules the Pure Land of the Western Paradise.