The Buddha Amida's Descent

Description According to Japanese Buddhists of the Pure Land sect, mere faith in Amida (Amitabha), the Buddha of the western paradise, will be rewarded with rebirth there. In this painting, Amida descends to greet the believer at death. He is accompanied by his attendants Seishi and Kannon (Avalokitesvara), who holds the lotus throne that will carry the believer's soul to paradise. "I shall go when Amida comes to invite me; a ray of light suddenly shines forth between his eyebrows; music sounds out anew astonishing my ears."

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
8/01/1988	Examination	examined for condition
1/01/1989	Treatment	cleaned; stabilized; mounted; loss compensation
6/27/2007	Examination	examined for condition

Provenance Yamanaka & Co., New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1920, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Label] On tag: Y B 1995

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1920