Amida Raigō-zu (Picture of the Descent of Amida Buddha)

An Amida raigōzu is a depiction that became popular in the late Heian period as part of a certain belief. At that time, Japan was in great turmoil with the rise of the samurai, and even monks were arming themselves and participating in battles. While the aristocrats in Kyoto might have led elegant lives, the city itself was in chaos, with bodies frequently lying in the streets.

Amidst this chaotic backdrop, the Buddhist concept of “mappō thought” spread widely. This idea posits that after a certain period following the death of Buddha, people would no longer be able to attain enlightenment. It was believed that this mappō era had arrived in the Heian period, and with the spread of epidemics and the collapse of society, people began to give up on salvation in this world and sought salvation in the next.

This led to the rise of Pure Land Buddhism. People, having given up on salvation in this life, started to wish for rebirth in the Pure Land in the next life. It was believed that Amida Buddha would come to welcome those who sought this rebirth, and thus this belief gained widespread popularity.

The Amida raigōzu depicts Amida Buddha coming to welcome the deceased, and it was believed that the more these images were drawn, displayed, and worshipped, the more merit one would accumulate, opening the path to the Pure Land. Consequently, many Amida raigōzu were created, and numerous temples were built. A large number of Buddhist statues were also made, as this was considered an important act for opening the path to the Pure Land.

In this way, the Amida raigōzu became a crucial part of the belief system that symbolized salvation for people during the turbulent times of the late Heian period.