Pure Land Buddhism

Pure Land Buddhism (浄土教) teaches that beings can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Amida by relying on his vow to save all who call his name. Simple, devotional and open to everyone, it became the most widely followed form of Buddhism in Japan, and its imagery, from golden halls to household altars, is everywhere.

Amida's vow

The sutras tell that, ages ago, a monk named Dharmākara made forty-eight vows, among them that he would not accept awakening unless all who called on him with faith were reborn in his land. Having become Amida, his vow is fulfilled. The practice of calling his name, Namu Amida Butsu, is the nenbutsu.

The schools

School Founder Head temple
Jōdo Hōnen Chion-in, Kyoto
Jōdo Shinshū Shinran Nishi Hongwanji and Higashi Honganji, Kyoto
Ji Ippen Shōjōkōji, Fujisawa

Earlier, the Tendai monk Genshin and the wandering saint Kūya spread Pure Land devotion. A famous Kamakura statue of Kūya at Rokuharamitsuji shows six tiny Amida figures emerging from his mouth as he chants.

Pure Land art

  • Amida halls, such as the Phoenix Hall of Byōdōin, built as images of paradise on earth.
  • Raigō paintings of Amida's descent to welcome the dying.
  • The Taima Mandala, a vast tableau of the Pure Land at Taimadera, copied many times.
  • Household altars, especially the gilded altars of Jōdo Shinshū. See Types of Butsudan.

In the collection

Browse Pure Land art, Jōdo Shinshū pieces, Ōtani-ha altar pieces and Amida figures. Our collector concierge can search Japan for Pure Land material.

See also

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