Incense box (kôgô), Uzawa Shôgetsu

Lacquer ware
Japan

Subject/design:

The Buddha Amida accompanied by his two attendants: the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kannon) on his left and the Bodhisattva Mahâsthâmaprâpta (Daiseishi) on his right. All three stand on lotus flowers, floating down on clouds. 

This scene depicts the Amida Triad (Amida Sanzon) coming to welcome (raigō), at the moment of death, the faithful who have called upon Amida by reciting his name (nembutsu). Mahâsthâmaprâpta holds his palms together in a gesture of greeting, while Avalokiteshvara presents a lotus on which the deceased will take place and ascend to the Pure Land.

Text adapted from: DUCOR, Jérôme, "Trésors bouddhiques japonais des collections Baur", Bulletin de la Fondation Baur, no. 67, juin 2006, p. 7-31.

Materials:

Polychrome togidashi lacquer

Date:

Meiji era (1868-1912)

Size:

8 x 1.7 cm

Place of origin:

Japan

Artist:

Uzawa Shôgetsu 鵜沢松月 (c. 1877 - after 1937)

Inventory number:

CB.LJ.1929.2

Copyright:

Fondation Baur

Photographer:

Marian Gérard