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Amida Nyorai
Amida Tathagata
Amida Buddha
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AMIDA BUDDHA (Skt. = Amitabha)
Buddha of Infinite Light & Life
Lord of the Beyond & the Afterlife
Gokuraku = Land of Ultimate Bliss
Jodo = Pure Land (Skt. = Sukhavati)
Main Deity of Pure Land Sects
Amida described in Infinite Life Sutra
Origin India
Associated with Mahayana Buddhism
Shinto Association: Amaterasu Omikami
Last Update Sept. 10, 2006
Added Five-Colored Cord
Added 90-Day Circumambulation
Amida Nyora Photo Tour Page
Amida is one of the loftiest savior figures in Japanese Buddhism, and Amida faith is concerned primarily with the life to come, the life in the beyond. Amida is also one of the Five Tathagata of Wisdom. The world-famous Big Buddha (Daibutsu) statue in Kamakura, around 15 meters in height, is Amida. To followers of Japan's Pure Land sects, Amida has eclipsed the Historical Buddha as the most popular divinity in Japan's Mahayana traditions.
Hōzō (Houzou, Hozo) Becomes Amida
 Before attaining Buddhahood, Amida was known as Hōzō Bodhisattva (Skt. Dharmakara). Hōzō made 48 Vows which serve as the basis for the modern vows taken by lay followers, monks, and nuns in Tibet, China, and Japan. In the 48 Vows, Hōzō pledged that, upon attaining Buddhahood, he would create the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss (the terms Jodo = Pure Land, and Gokuraku = Land of Ultimate Bliss, refer to the same realm). Hōzō guaranteed rebirth there to anyone who recited his Buddha name (i.e., Amida) with utmost sincerity, even those on their death bed. Hōzō fulfilled the vows and thereafter became Amida Nyorai. For a few more details on Hōzō Bosatsu, please click here.
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Sanskrit, Chinese, & English Names for Amida Buddha
NOTE: The Japanese name AMIDA corresponds to the Sanskrit names Amitabha and Amitayus, both meaning "immeasurable life span;" also corresponds to the Sanskirt term Amrta, meaning "immortal."
Japanese Readings & Spellings for Amida
Mantra for Amida Buddha in Japan
 
Amida's Sanskrit Seed Syllables
Japanese pronunciations given below
(L) KIRIIKU; (M) KIRIIKU
Blue Kiriiku image (L) from Tobifudo (J-site)
Guardian of People Born in the
Zodiac Year of the Dog and Boar
Who is Your Patron Deity?
 Early History of Amida in Japan
Buddhist scholar Robert E. Morrell says it is a "remarkable accident of history" that a Pure Land school devoted to Amida was not introduced to Japan along with the original Six Nara Sects, for faith in Amida was known in Japan already by Prince Shotoku's time (573 - 621 AD). The original six sects of the Nara Era (710 to 794 AD) were Kusha, Joujitsu, Ritsu, Hossou, Sanron, and Kegon. In the subsequent Heian Era (794-1192 AD) came the Tendai and Shingon schools, which collectively are known as the Eight Schools of early Buddhism in Japan. Only in the Kamakura Era (1185-1333 AD) do we see the pronounced emergence of the Pure Land sects devoted to Amida.
90-Day Circumambulation
常行三味 Jougyouzanmai (also Jougyousanmai)
Faith in Amida's Pure Land (Jodo 浄土宗) can be traced back to the Six Dynasties Period in China (317-589 AD). Buddhism arrived later in Japan, in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. By the Heian Era (794-1192), Amida worship had gained some favor among the Japanese court, scholars, and monasteries. One practice of particular note was the so-called 90-Day Circumambulation, in which devotees walked constantly around an effigy of Amida, and without letup, chanted the name of Amida Buddha while meditating upon the deity. Various halls, called Jougyou Sanmaidou (Jp. 常行三味堂) were built for this practice. Says the JAANUS Online Dictionary: "Ennin 圓仁 (794-864 AD), the third head priest at the Tendai sect (Tendaishuu 天台宗 temple at Enrｙakuji Temple 延暦寺 on Mt. Hiei 比叡 in Shiga prefecture), built the first Jougyoudou Hall in 851 AD. The one now extant was built in 1595 and is connected to the Hokkedou 法華堂 (also Hokke Sanmaidou 法華三昧堂) by a 6-bay corridor, 12.58 meters long, that stretches between the two bays. The latter hall enshrines a statue of the Historical Buddha and a copy of the Lotus Sutra (Jp. = Hokkekyou 法華経), which is recited during circumambulation. The only other extant pair of halls, known as Jougyou Sanmaidou and Hokke Sanmaidou, are at Rinnouji Temple 輪王寺, 1619 AD, in Tochigi prefecture." <end quote from JAANUS >
Days of the Dharma. Another factor that engendered faith in Amida was a widespread belief in those bygone days of the Three Periods of the Law (Jp. = 三時 sanji, shouzoumatsu, shozomatsu; also known as the Days of the Dharma. This was an all-encompassing concept of society's rise and fall that originated much earlier in Indian Buddhism but came to prominence later in China and then Japan. It foretold of the world's ultimate decay and the complete disappearance of Buddhist practice. At the time, the Days of the Dharma in Japan were divided into three periods, the first phase lasting 1000 years (Age of Shobo 正法) after the death of the Historical Buddha (then given as 949 BC), a golden period during which Buddhism gained acceptance and spread, and in which followers had the capacity to understand the Dharma (the Buddhist teachings). The second phase (Age of Zoubou 象法) would also last 1000 years, during which Buddhist practice begins to weaken; and the third and final phase lasting 3,000 years (the Age of Mappo 末法), when Buddhist faith would deteriorate and no longer be practiced. In Japan, the Age of Mappo was scheduled to begin in 1052 AD, and a sense of foreboding thus filled the land, with people from all classes yearning for a gospel of salvation. The development of Japan's Pure Land sects, and their exclusive devotion to Amida Buddha, should be viewed against this backdrop.
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Modern Amida Wood Carvings
Both Available for Online Purchase
 Buddhism for the Common Folk (Kamakura Era)
Faith in Amida Nyorai remained largely confined to a small segment of the Japanese population until the Kamakura Era (1185-1333), when it was popularized by new Buddhist sects (the Pure Land sects; see below) committed to bringing Buddhism to the illiterate commoner. These sects expressed concern for the salvation of the ordinary person, and stressed pure and simple faith over complicated rites and doctrines. Their leaders, Honen Shonin and his disciple Shinran, taught that anyone could attain salvation by faithfully reciting the name of Amida Buddha. Even today, the key practice for Amida devotees is simply to chant Amida's name, "Namu Amida Butsu" for Amida Nyorai vowed that whoever calls his name with faith shall be reborn in a paradise called the Pure Land. In modern terms, Amida faith is a Mahayana philosophy that represents the "quick path" to enlightenment. Those who live in the Western Pure Land of Bliss, also called Jodo or Gokuraku -- a land devoid of worry or toil -- can focus their energies on attaining Buddhahood. Here, in the Pure Land, they have escaped the Six States of Existence -- they are no longer trapped in the cycle of birth and death (Skt. samsara), and can thus devote all efforts to attaining enlightenment.
Three deities -- Amida Buddha (this page), Kannon Bodhisattva, and Jizo Bodhisattva -- are intimately connected with Japan's popular Pure Land sects. All three came to prominence among the common people in the Kamakura Era (1185-1333). Even today, these three remain the bedrock of folk Buddhism in modern Japan -- Amida for the life to come in paradise, Kannon to assist those in distress in the earthly life, and Jizo to protect against the torments of hell. Both Kannon and Jizo serve Amida.
The Nichiren Sect, which also came to prominence during the Kamakura period, adamantly rejects the Amida "quick path" to salvation, claiming it actually harms Buddhist belief, for it does not prompt people to pursue a life of reflection and improvement. It is a false doctrine to adherents of the Nichiren Sect, for Amida faith lulls people into believing they need not practice Buddhism during their lifetime -- to gain salvation, they need only repent on their deathbed, even if they were bad people during their lifetime. To Nichiren devotees, chanting alone will not bring salvation. It is only a first step, a preliminary practice, in religious advancement. It must be followed by rigorous Buddhist practice and meditation.
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Descent from Paradise
Amida Nyorai presides over the Great Western Paradise. When a devotee dies, it is believed that Amida descends from his paradise to lead the faithful back to the Pure Land. In paintings and scrolls, this is generally depicted by showing Amida riding atop a cloud, often accompanied by two Bodhisattva, Kannon and Seishi, who are Amida's main attendants. In addition, Amida artwork often depicts Amida surrounded by 25 Bodhisattva (including Kannon and Seishi) descending from heaven to guide departed souls back to paradise. Please see Amida Raigo Triad for photos of these groupings. In sculpture, Amida is sometimes accompanied by Bosatsu on Clouds, but most frequently attended by Kannon and Seishi.
 
Amida descends from heaven to lead followers back to paradise
(L) Unknown, found at Studio Kokuu
(R) Kamakura Era Scoll from Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
Goshiki no Ito 五色の糸 = Five-Colored Cord
During the Heian period, the tradition of hanging a scroll of
Amida Nyorai in front of a dying person was established.
A five-colored cord was attached to the scroll and extended
into the hands of the dying person. According to Pure Land
believers, if the dying person held firmly to the cord during
the final moments of life, s/he was assured direct passage
to Amida's Western Paradise (Jp. = Gokuraku or Pure Land).
For much more on the number five and its
significance, please see the Number Five page
Above Photo
Modern Replica of 12th-13th Century Painting
Amida Buddha Coming over the Mountains
Replica adds the Five-Colored Cord
Photo courtesy Ryukoku University (J-site)
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 Big Buddha in Kamakura
Constructed in 1252. Of the three giant effigies of Buddha in Japan, it alone remains in orginal form, whereas the 8th-century 72-feet-high statue in Nara was recast, and the famous 160-feet-high Kyoto Daibutsu was entirely destroyed and replaced by a small wooden substitute. (See Big Buddha page for descriptions of all three and others, plus more photos).The Kamakura Daibutsu is roughly 50 feet in height (the face itself over eight feet long) and weighs 93 tons. Upon the head are 656 curls, a traditional characteristic of the Amida Buddha. The silver boss on the forehead (from which emanates the light that illuminates the universe) weighs 30 pounds.
 
Amida Nyorai (stone carving) in private garden, Kamakura
Early Meiji Period
Visit 8 Buddhist Protectors of the Zodiac for More
PURE LAND SECTS - BUDDHISM REACHES THE COMMONER
The Jodo-shu and Jodo-Shinshu sects (Pure Land Sects) were founded by Honen Shonin (1133 - 1212) and his disciple Shinran (1173 - 1262), respectfully. Both taught that anyone, whether noble or peasant, could attain salvation by faithfully reciting the name of Amida Buddha -- chanting the invocation "Namu Amida Butsu" with devotion would lead to rebirth in the Pure Land Paradise. The rapid spread in popularity of the Pure Land sects was a serious challenge to the institutionalized Buddhist monestaries of that day, who responded by condemning Honen and his followers to exile. Shinran, Honen's disciple, continued to challenge the existing Buddhist authorities by declaring that meat-eating and matrimony were not contrary to the teachings of the Buddha (at the time, neither acts were allowed by the reigning Buddhist powers). By stressing pure and simple faith over complicated rites and doctrines, and by allowing believers to enjoy worldly benefits with the promise of salvation in the afterlife, the Pure Land gained widespread popularity among the peasantry. Today, the Jodo-Shinshu sect, along with the Nichiren Sect (also founded in Kamakura Period), are the two leading sects of Japanese Buddhism.
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Below Text Courtesy of:
www.jodo.org/about_plb/buddhas.html
Buddhist "Pure Land" (Amida's Paradise) sect, founded in 1174 by Honen (1133-1212) and which teaches that the worship of Buddha, in particular the invocation of Amida's name, leads to rebirth in the Pure Land paradise.
Amida Buddha is the central Buddha and object of devotion of Pure Land Buddhism. This Buddha, whose name means "infinite light" and "immeasurable life" is thought to pervade the universe with his presence and power. In the Sutra of Immeasurable Life (muryoju-kyo), it is said that a long time ago a bodhisattva named Dharmakara (Hozo-bosatsu) made forty-eight original vows in order to save all sentient beings and after eons of energetic practice, fulfilled them and so became Amida Buddha and succeeded in creating his Pure Land as a part of his vows. Amida Buddha is believed to still continue his preaching in his Pure Land in the West.
 
Above Photos - Amida Nyorai (Buddha)
Click thumbnail images to see enlarged photos.
Located at Hase Dera in Kamakura
This gilt statue is about three meters high
Reportly made during Yoritomo's time (Kamakura Period)
It is worshipped to ward off calamities that occur in the "unlucky ages"
(yakudoshi in Japanese); according to the Japanese, the years especially
prone to misfortune for men are 25 and 42, and for women 19 and 33.
ABOUT HOZO BOSATSU
Hōzō (Houzou, Hozo) Bosatsu 法蔵菩薩
Hōzō Bosatsu (Skt. = Dharmakara) appears in the Sutra of Infinite Life (Daimuryojukyo  ). As a human, Hōzō was a king who gave up his throne after hearing the teachings of Lokesvararaja Buddha  . After eons of practice, he made 48 vows  and thereafter achieved Buddhahood, becoming known as Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Life ( ).
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMIDA NYORAI
- Buddhist-Artwork.com. Statues of Amida Nyorai (Buddha) are available for online purchase. Buddhist Artwork is our sister site.
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