ProvenioArt Intelligence
Sign InExplore
nara japanconcept:era medieval

Taima Mandala (Taema Mandara), c. 763 CE

Taima Mandala (当麻曼荼羅), c. 763 CE. Woven tapestry (silk, hemp); 396 × 358 cm. Taima-dera Temple, Nara. The founding mandala of the Japanese Pure Land (Jodo) tradition, depicting the Western Paradise of Amitabha Buddha as described in the Meditation Sutra (Kanmuryōjukyō). A National Treasure of Japan.

Scholarly Significance

Anchor Japanese Pure Land Buddhist visual culture with the Taima Mandala — the foundational image of the Western Paradise (Sukhavati) for the Japanese tradition.

Notes

  • ·According to temple legend, the mandala was woven in a single night by Chujo-hime (Princess Chūjō), guided by the Bodhisattva Kannon appearing in the form of a weaving woman.
  • ·Depicts the Western Paradise (Sukhavativyuha) of Amitabha (Amida) Buddha with three tiers: central paradise scene, lower margin with Meditation Sutra narrative, border with Pure Land stages.
  • ·The original tapestry is too fragile for display; the Taima-dera keeps it under lock. Numerous painted copies (replicas) were made from the 12th century onward.
  • ·The most famous replica was painted by Chien (Eichi) in 1302 (National Treasure, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum).
  • ·The mandala is the central devotional image for the Jodo-shu (Pure Land) and Jodo Shinshu sects of Japanese Buddhism.