Legends of the Yūzū Nembutsu Sect

Kamakura period (1185–1333), 14th century

Commissioned and executed in the mid-14th century, this lengthy horizontal scroll illustrates the founding of the Yūzū Nembutsu sect of Japanese Buddhism. Yūzū Nembutsu means “chanting [Amida’s] name in communion”—a reference to the belief that one person chanting the Amida Buddha’s name would affect all other beings, whether in attaining individual rebirth or allowing souls in hell to be saved.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Artist unknown Japanese, active 14th century

Date

Kamakura period (1185–1333), 14th century

Medium

Handscroll; ink, colors, and gold on paper

Dimensions

30.5 × 1176.9 cm (12 × 460 in.)

Origin

Japan

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Kate S. Buckingham Endowment