Statue of Amida Nyorai
A gilt bronze statue of Amida Nyorai, the Buddha of the Pure Land, honors the mother of Prince Shotoku (574–622), Empress Anahobe no Hashihito (d. 622). The Amida is flanked by two bodhisattva attendants. Amida is the Buddha of infinite light and life, welcoming believers to his Pure Land in the West. Here, Amida sits on a lotus pedestal, the hands positioned for meditation. Many images of Amida exhibit a serene gaze, expressing the deep-seated benevolence and compassion associated with this Buddha.
The original statue was stolen in 1097. A replacement was made during the Kamakura period (1185–1333), based on the carving of the historical Buddha and Yakushi Nyorai statues in the Main Hall.