愚極礼才書 「極重悪人無他方便・唯稱弥陀得生極楽」|Buddhist Maxim on the Saving Power of Amida

Gukyoku Reisai

15th century · Pair of hanging scrolls; ink on paper · Asian Art

Like adherents of the Pure Land sects of Buddhism, Gukyoku Reisai, a prominent Zen monk, believed in the saving power of Amida Buddha. This couplet, written in Chinese cursive script, reads, from right column to left: For an utterly evil person, there is no other expedient means. Simply recite the name of [A]mida to achieve birth in Paradise. —Translated by John T. Carpenter

Artist

Gukyoku Reisai

Date

15th century

Medium

Pair of hanging scrolls; ink on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto, in memory of John M. Rosenfield, 2014