|
Subject:Bronze of seated Amida Nyorai - Japan - late C18th?
Posted By: Steve Mon, Mar 23, 2015 IP: 5.81.23.39
This bronze statue of Amida Nyorai (seated on a lotus pedestal and modelled on the C13th Daibutsu at Kotokuin Temple, Kamakura), has been in my family for many years. It is approx. 50 cm high and 27 cm in diameter at the base.
Some years ago it was valued by a London auction house for probate purposes and the valuer noted that the statue is dated in kanji on the back as "Tenmei Ninen", the second year of the Tenmei (Dawn) Era - 1782 - in the reign of Emperor Kokaku.
Unfortunately, my knowledge of Japanese is poor, so I would appreciate the expertise of members of the forum as to whether or not the date is correct and also as to whether the kanji inscriptions on the Buddha's back give any information about the identity of the bronze-caster/maker. I attach photographs of the front and rear of the Buddha as well as close-ups of the inscriptions.
With my sincere thanks,
Steve
|