English
Hirayama Ikuo Painting Work
Japan

A Vision of the Pure Land: Byodo-in Temple in Uji

  • Hirayama Ikuo
  • 2004
  • Color on Paper (Japanese Style Painting, Nihonga)
  • 112.0×162.0cm

The Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-In Temple in the city of Uji, Kyoto, is representative of the Japanese Buddhist art. It was built in 1053 by Fujiwara Yorimichi in the Heian period. It is famous for the appearance of Amida Buddha's "pure land of paradise". According to the Diary of Dingjia Courtsmen, the sitting statue of Amida Buddha in the hall was the work of the sculptor Jōchō, small relief carvings of celestials accompanied Amida were also made by workshops with Jōchō as the center. This is the accompany work of "Heisei Luozhong Luowai Tu". The Amida Buddha sits in the center as if it had appeared from the Phoenix Hall, while the celestials around the Amida seems to be praising Amitabha Buddha.