Standing bodhisattva in Zenkoji style

This standing bodhisattva is distinguished by a high octagonal crown and a gesture of both hands joined with palms together in front of his chest. Most likely the image was one of two bodhisattvas that were part of an Amitabha (Amida) buddha triad modeled on the famous set at Zenkoji, a rather remote temple located in the mountains in Nagano prefecture. From the twelfth century on, the temple taught Pure Land Buddhism and prospered under the government’s patronage. The temple’s famous Amitabha triad became known throughout Japan and was copied many times.