Contemplation of the Sutra of Infinite Life - Kanmuriyōjukyōhen

Japanese: 観無量寿経変 - かんむりょうじゅきょうへん

...The early works are different in that they surround the Amida Triad and the bodhisattvas, but they do not depict the treasure tower of the Paradise Palace behind them (Cave 332). However, they gradually became more complex, with treasure towers and dance ceremonies being added (Cave 220), and from the 8th century onwards, the so-called "Contemplation of the Muryoju Sutra" (Contemplation of the Sutra) was completed, with teachings from the "Contemplation of the Muryoju Sutra" added to the periphery of the picture (Cave 321, Cave 172, Cave 148, Cave 217). Some of these are based on Zendo's "Commentary on the Contemplation of the Muryoju Sutra", and were eventually passed on across the sea to Japan's "Taima Mandala". ...

From the Taima Mandala

...Buddhist paintings depicting scenes from the Pure Land are called "Amida Pure Land Variations," "Pure Land Variations," "Western Variations," etc., and in China, they have been depicted primarily in painting as important themes in Pure Land Buddhism since around the 5th century. Among these, the "Amida Pure Land Variations," which illustrate the teachings of the "Amida Sutra," are called "Amida Sutra Variations" (or "Amida Sutra Variations" for short). The Taima Mandala is one of the most widely circulated Amida Sutra Variations in Japan, and conveys an original that dates back to the Nara period....

*Some of the terminology explained in relation to the "Contemplation of the Muryoju Sutra" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…その初期のものは阿弥陀三尊および諸菩薩をめぐらす点は他に異ならないが，その後方に極楽宮の宝楼閣を描かない(332洞)。しかししだいに複雑さを増し宝楼閣や舞楽会が加えられ(220洞)，8世紀以降には画面の周囲に《観無量寿経》の教説を描き加えたいわゆる〈観無量寿経変〉(観経変)が完成する(321洞，172洞，148洞，217洞)。これらの中には善導の《観無量寿経疏》に依拠するものがあり，やがて海を渡って日本の《当麻曼荼羅》へと受けつがれた。…

【当麻曼荼羅】より

…極楽浄土の情景を表す仏画は〈阿弥陀浄土変〉〈極楽浄土変〉〈西方変〉などと呼ばれ，中国では5世紀ごろから浄土教の重要主題として主に絵画によって表現される。これらのうち，とくに《観無量寿経》の教義内容を図解した阿弥陀浄土変を〈観無量寿経変〉(略して観経変)という。当麻曼荼羅は日本で最も広く流布した観経変の一つで，奈良時代にさかのぼる原本を伝える。…

※「観無量寿経変」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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