Japanese Heian Period Document

This is a picture of an Amida Buddha from the Heian period in Japan. It was carved by Jocho in 1053. This Buddha is 3 meters high measured form the top of it's head to it's knees. The Buddha is made of gilt lacquer over wood. Gilt is a form of gold and lacquer is sometimes a hard durable finish that can produce a high gloss. It is located at Phoenix Hall, a part of a Buddhist Temple in Kyoto Japan. The Amida is installed on a high platform.

This connects to what we're talking about in class for the Heian period because it shows the sinification that was taking place. The Japanese were starting to act more and more like the Chinese, incorporating their religions into their society. Buddhism (mostly Zen or Chan) was common in China, and now it's being shown in Japan as they tried to be like China.