Amide Buddha

Jocho. Heian period, c. 1053 CE. Byodo-in. Gold leaf and lacquer on wood.

This piece was created by perhaps "the most skilled sculptor during the [Japanese] Fujiwara years" - Jocho (Doshi). The styling and medium reflect the Japanese love of using wood, which was at an all-time-high during the Heian period. Placed near a calm body of water at the temple Byodo-in, this Buddha sculpture reflects ultimate serenity, welcoming visitors into "paradise," appearing nearly to be floating from across the pond.

Image:
"Amide Buddha". Chapter 8: Art of India. Available online at http://www.fa.org/community/. Accessed 18 July 2006.

Sources:
Doshi, Tishani. "The Amide Buddha". The Hindu 28 Sep 2003. Available online at http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mag/2003/09/28/stories/200 3092800590800.htm. Accessed 18 July 2006.

Stokstad, Marilyn. "Japanese Art before 1392". Art History. Revised Second Edition, Vol. 1 p. 395-396.