50 - JAPAN - 18th century

JAPAN - 18th century A lacquered and gilded wooden statue depicting Amida Nyorai 阿弥陀如来 (Amitābha), carved in a standing position. Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, is the principal deity of Pure Land Buddhism. He is depicted standing and performing the welcoming mudra (*raigô-in*), which symbolizes the welcoming of a believer’s soul at the moment of death. The robes are richly gilded and covered with a fine lacquer. The statue rests on a carved pedestal, formed of lotus petals assembled on a circular, multi-tiered base;* Venerated as a figure of salvation and compassion, Amida has been the object of great devotion, both among the aristocracy and the common people, throughout Japan. His worship emphasizes faith and the hope for a blissful existence after death. Dimensions: Height: 117 cm, width: 39.5 cm, depth: 42 cm. Height of the statue: 69 cm. (signs of wear, scuffing, minor chips; the foot and right hand have been reattached)