Welcoming Descent of Amida Buddha

Welcoming Descent of Amida Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Images of Amida Buddha descending from the heavenly realms were considered indispensable furnishings for people on their deathbeds. They show Amida Buddha, sometimes with attendants, welcoming a believer to the Western Paradise, a place free of suffering. The artist used gofun, a pigment made of ground oyster shells, to create raised patterns on the robe, such as the peonies along the hem, suggesting the texture of sumptuous textiles. century.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Welcoming Descent of Amida BuddhaWelcoming Descent of Amida BuddhaWelcoming Descent of Amida BuddhaWelcoming Descent of Amida BuddhaWelcoming Descent of Amida Buddha

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.