Throughout history, people of all cultures have asked the existential question, “Where do we go after we die?” A popular Buddhistic response to this question in medieval Japan was the western Pure Land (J. saihō jōdo) of the Buddha Amitabha (J. Amida). The idea of being born in a resplendent, distant paradise and envisioning departed loved ones there gave hope and solace to many facing the fear of death. These sentiments contributed to the popularity of Pure Land beliefs and resulted in the production of numerous raigō zu (“welcoming approach” paintings), in which Amitabha Buddha attended by a multitude of bodhisattvas appears before devotees at the time of their death, and jōdo zu (Pure Land paintings), which depict scenes of Amitabha’s paradise that awaits devotees after death. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper agency founder, Murayama Ryōhei (1850–1933) whose personal collection comprises the core of the artworks in the Kosetsu Museum of Art, also collected many examples of Pure Land Buddhist art. This exhibition highlights the paintings of Amitabha Buddha’s Welcoming Approach and the Pure Land, together with other related artworks and artifacts. Also presented here are two unusual paintings that have recently restored–Amitabha Buddha and Assembly of Bodhisattvas Returning to the Pure Land with the Departed and Amitabha Triad in Lotus Pond.
Information about the Exhibition
〈Dates〉
April 9, 2022 - May 22, 2022
〈Opening hours〉
10:00 am–5:00 pm
