Statue of Amida

Statue of Amida

Japanese, 18th century

Carved wood decorated with urushi lacquer and inlaid rock crystal

Our April Object of the Month is this statue of the Buddha Amitabha, or Amida in Japanese. It is made from carved wood decorated in urushi lacquer with gold and two rock crystals on the forehead and head. The ūrṇā, or forehead mark, is a characteristic of a Buddha, or ‘enlightened one’. This statue of Amida is seated in meditation, with his hands resting in his lap in a meditation gesture. He has a serene expression with his eyes gazing downwards. He is wearing a flowing robe which is draped over both shoulders. Amida is believed to be the Buddha who reigns over the Pure Land Paradise and embodies eternal life, compassion, and light. He became an important deity in Japan following the founding of the Pure Land school of Buddhism by the Japanese monk Hōnen (1133 – 1212).

Portrait of Hōnen by Fujiwara Takanobu (1142 – 1205), wikimedia commons

Hōnen lived during a time when civil war was common, as the power of the Emperor faded at the end of the Heian period (794 – 1185) and samurai families battled to claim power, leading to the establishment of a military government in Kamakura in 1185. People who lived during that time believed they were seeing the beginning of what was known as mappō – the deterioration of Buddhist law when it was impossible for humans to attain enlightenment. According to Hōnen, humans could not achieve enlightenment without the help of Amida. Hōnen taught that Amida would save those who chanted his name by taking them to his ‘Pure Land’ where they could work towards enlightenment. This idea contrasted with previous schools of Buddhism, which were only accessible to the elite who had enough time and education for studying texts. In the place of training and study, Hōnen’s Pure Land school required only the faithful and devoted chanting of Amida’s name, which gave it a wider appeal.

Welcoming Descent of Amida Buddha, painted hanging scroll, 15th – 16th century, Metropolitan Museum, object number 30.72.1

This statue was made using either the warihagi tsukuri technique or the yosegi tsukuri technique. With warihagi tsukuri, a statue is first carved from a block of wood which is then split into sections and hollowed out to prevent future cracking and warping. The separated sections are then joined back together. The yosegi tsukuri technique involves carving the statue from separate blocks of wood and then joining them together. This was a common technique used from around the 12th century. Prior to the development of yosegi tsukuri, Buddhist statues were often carved from a single block of wood, which was less efficient and risked warping or cracking. This Amida statue was carved from wood and then covered with layers of urushi lacquer and gold which has partly worn away. The statue has previously been repaired, as it was broken along what appears to be the sections of wood which were joined together. The base is lined with velvet, which is a later European addition to the statue.

The Amida statue prior to repair, showing a break at the arm and base where the separate pieces of wood were attached to make the statue, Chiddingstone Castle collection, object number 01.1620

The statue is on display in the Castle’s Buddhist Room for our 2026 open season. We are open until the end of October, Thursdays to Sundays. The Japanese Room is unfortunately closed following the collapse of part of the ceiling plaster in January, but there are several Japanese objects including this statue which can be viewed as part of the Buddhist collection. Visitors have also been able to appreciate the annual blooming of an avenue of Japanese cherry blossom trees in the grounds. Five of the eleven trees were planted in memory of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. The remainder were planted by local families to remember loved ones. Cherry blossoms are appreciated in Japan all the more because they do not last, reflecting a key Buddhist idea of impermanence.

This object is just one of the many objects that form part of Denys Eyre Bower’s five impressive collections which include Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite, and Books. For more information on these objects, review our Object of the Month series, visit the Historic House and Collections or contact our Curator, Naomi Collick by email or by calling 01892 870347.