Zenkoji-style Amida Sanzon

Japanese: 善光寺式阿弥陀三尊 - ぜんこうじしきあみださんぞん

This statue is said to have been carved and enshrined as a replica of the Amida Triad, the principal image of Zenkoji Temple in Nagano Prefecture. The original statue (Zenkoji Nyorai) has been a completely secret Buddha since ancient times and has not been allowed to be seen by anyone, so it is not clear how faithful the Buddhist statues of this style that remain in various places are to the original. According to temple legend, the original statue was donated by King Seongmyeong of Baekje in the 13th year of the reign of Emperor Kinmei, and was abandoned in a moat pond in Naniwa due to an epidemic. Honda Zenko picked it up and placed it in his home, and later built a temple, which is how it began. In replica statues, the central statue is generally dressed over the shoulders and stands upright on a lotus pedestal, with the right hand held upright in front of the chest with the five fingers open and the palm showing.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

長野県善光寺の本尊阿弥陀三尊像を模刻し勧請したと伝える像。その原像(善光寺如来)は古来まったくの秘仏で他見を許さないため，各地にのこるこの形式の仏像がどの程度原像に忠実であるか明言できない。寺伝によれば，原像は欽明天皇13年に百済聖明王より貢献された像で，悪疫流行により難波の堀池に捨てられ，それを本田善光が拾って自宅に安置し，後に一寺を建てたのがそのはじまりという。伝模の像はだいたい，中尊は通肩に衣をまとい蓮台に直立し，右手は胸前で五指を開いて立てて掌を見せる。

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

<<: Zenkoji earthquake

>>: Zenkoji Temple