The Statue of Amida Buddha
Shinran (1173–1263) is one of the most respected figures in Japanese religious history. Before he established the popular sect of Jōdo Shinshū, or True Pure Land Buddhism, he trained as a novice monk at the Tendai headquarters on Mt. Hiei, northeast of Kyoto. Shinran became a master of the sutras as well as an accomplished sculptor. The statue of the standing Amida, Buddha of Infinite Light, at the temple of Hōjūji is a prime example of his talent. Reportedly carved using a billhook, the statue is covered in black lacquer, and its provenance is confirmed by an inscription on the base by Shinran himself.