116 - JAPAN - 18th century

JAPAN - 18th century Lacquered and gilded wooden statue depicting Amida Nyorai 阿弥陀如来 (Amitābha). Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light and Life, is the principal deity of Pure Land Buddhism. He is depicted seated in *dhyanasana* (meditation posture), with his hands in the *mida no jō-in* 弥陀定印, the meditation *mudra* specific to Amida. He is clad in loose robes, open at the chest and falling in voluminous, cascading folds. His serene face is distinguished by half-closed eyes—cast downward and inlaid with crystal—as well as delicately arched eyebrows. His hair consists of tight curls surmounting a domed *ushnisha* (cranial protuberance). The statue is crafted using the *yosegi* technique (assembly of wooden blocks) and rests on a double lotus-shaped throne. Dimensions: Height 54.5 cm, width 33.5 cm, depth 34.5 cm; height of the figure 37 cm. (Signs of wear, missing pieces, slight chips...)