The art of Pure Land Buddhism

On the occasion of the 850th anniversary of the foundation of the Jōdo Shū School, the exhibition set up at the National Museum in Tokyo retraces the salient stages in the history of Pure Land Buddhism, starting from its foundation by the Japanese priest Hōnen, who lived between the 12th and 13th centuries. In an era of great turmoil, Hōnen had gained widespread support by believing that anyone, regardless of their rank or life circumstances, has the potential to achieve salvation and enter the Pure Land Paradise of Amida Buddha (Amitābha) after death. According to Hōnen, the way to achieve this is to repeatedly chant the devotional invocation Namu Amida Butsu ("I take refuge in the Buddha Amitābha"), known as "nenbutsu". The exhibition covers a very broad time span and also examines how Jōdo Shū grew and expanded significantly under the patronage of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo Period. A journey through history that is retraced through the exhibition of precious artworks, including numerous national treasures linked to Pure Land Buddhism.