Descent of Amida Buddha (Raigo). 14th century. ink, color, and gold on silk. Gift of Mary C. Lanius. 1974.5.

image height: 41 3/4 in, 106.045 cm; image width: 15 in, 38.1 cm; mount height: 73 in, 185.42 cm; mount width: 20 3/4 in, 52.705 cm; overall width: 22 5/8 in, 57.4675 cm

Arts of Asia

Arts of Asia

Descent of Amida Buddha (Raigo) Japan 1300s, Kamakura period Ink, color, and gold on silk Museum purchase 1974.5 Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light, is shown standing on two cloud-borne lotuses. He welcomes the deceased into his Western Paradise, the Pure Land (Jodo), where faithful devotees are reborn. Earlier raigo (welcoming descent) images from the 1000s show Amida arriving with a heavenly retinue of attendants. In the late Kamakura period (1185-1333), simpler raigo paintings depict a solitary Amida.

At least 1964, Mathias Komor [b. 1909, d. 1984], Mathias Komor Gallery, New York; 1964, Mary Lanius, purchased from Mathias Komor; 1964-1969, DAM collection, gift of Mary Lanius; 1969-1973,unknown location, stolen from DAM collection. 1973, DAM collection, anonymously returned.