Sword with Sheath

Kanemoto

Early 15th century

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the standing Buddha Amida accompanied by a choir of 25 celestial attendants--flanked by Kannon and Seishi to welcome a dying individual to the Western Paradise—a Buddhist Pure Land where all will eventually attain enlightenment. The dynamic composition and large scale of the shrine (zushi) bring the full power of loving welcome to console the dying. This format became so popular it has its own name, raigō, denoting a welcoming descent. Two small sculptures of monks are placed on clouds in the interior, close to Amida. The gradient shading of gold on the left figure’s clothing signals this is Zendō (Ch. Shandao; 613–81), a 7th century Chinese monk, whose teachings were revived by the Japanese monk Hōnen Shonin Eden (1133–1212) as part of his founding of the Jōdo religious order. Hōnen is most likely the monk depicted on the right. The transmission of teachings across time and space from the 7th to the 12th century demonstrated in this shrine.
Buff pottery vessel with three swelled legs that end in small blunt points, body has a crinulated band around its girth, and tall, slender spout that ends in trefoil mouth rim, handle connecting middle of body to middle of neck
Landscape with Foot Travelers among Snowy Pines and Bamboo in circular fan format.
Looking across the Shameen Canal, Canton, China, The Universal Photo Art Co., gelatin silver prints mounted on card