Welcoming Descent of the Bodhisattva Jizō
An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art
In addition to Amida Buddha, compassionate bodhisattvas such as Kannon and Jizō are also represented in welcoming descent, or raigō. Images of Jizō’s raigō originated in the Kamakura period and are often associated with practices at Kasuga Shrine in Nara (Japan’s ancient capital), where Jizō is one of the primary Buddhist deities of worship.
Asian Art
An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art
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.