Gōshō Mandara (Mandala of Amitābha’s Welcoming Descent), unknown maker from Japan

Exhibition Label: "Compassionate Beings: Japanese Buddhist Art," Sep-2009, Kris Ercums Paintings of the descent of Amida, called raigo, became popular in Japan in the eleventh century. Amida Buddha, who presides over the Western Paradise, appears twice in this painting. In the lower portion of this painting, Amida and his entourage of bodhisattvas, musicians, and dancers descend towards the dying supplicant in the house at the lower right. Just to the left of the descending Amida are Jizo, who carries a jewel, and Ryuju, whose hands are pressed together in prayer. Further down, the bodhisattva Kannon extends a lotus throne to seat the soul of the deceased for its journey to the Western Paradise. The upper portion of the painting shows the entourage on its return to paradise. Archive Label 2003 (version 1): Paintings of the descent of Amida, called raigo, became popular in Japan from the eleventh century. Amida Buddha, who presides over the Western Paradise, appears twice in this painting. In the lower portion of this painting, Amida and his entourage of bodhisattvas, musicians, and dancers descend towards the dying supplicant in the house at the lower right. Just to the left of the descending Amida are Jizo, who carries a jewel, and Ryuju, whose hands are pressed together in prayer. Further down, the bodhisattva Kannon extends a lotus throne to seat the soul of the deceased for its journey to the Western Paradise. The upper portion of the painting shows the entourage on its return to paradise. Archive Label 2003 (version 2): Paintings of the descent of Amida, called raigo, became popular in Japan in the eleventh century. Amida Buddha, lord of the Western Paradise, appears twice in this painting. In the lower portion of the painting, Amida and his entourage of bodhisattvas, musicians, and dancers descend rapidly towards the house at the lower right to rescue a dying soul. Amida is accompanied by Jizo, who carries a jewel, and Ryuju, whose hands are pressed together in prayer. Further down, the bodhisattva Kannon extends a lotus throne to seat the soul of the deceased for its journey to the Western Paradise. The upper portion of the painting depicts Amida and his entourage in a heavenly realm, perhaps at the gates of the Western Paradise. Archive Label date unknown: In this painting, the compassionate Amida Buddha descends from his Western Paradise to welcome the soul of a believer and lead it to paradise. Paintings of this type, called raigo, became popular in the eleventh century in Japan. Priests called to a deathbed sometimes brought a raigo painting with them so the dying person could focus on the image of the Amida. Some paintings even had strings attached to the hands of the descending Amida which were placed in the hands of the dying believer.