Amitabha Buddha, the essence of boundless immeasurable light, resides in the western land of unlimited bliss, Sukhavati. He stands on a double lotus, his left hand holding a vase containing nectars of immortality, his right hand lowered in varada mudra, the gesture of wish-fulfilling generosity. On either side of the Buddha are two smaller figures of Kuan Yin. The goddess to the Buddha’s right offers compassion, holding in her right hand the water bottle inclined to bring the water of life to sentient beings. The left hand is in vitarka mudra, the mystic gesture of bodhisattvas. The goddess on the Buddha’s left holds the Joo-I in her left hand, which, like the vajra, symbolizes faith in the Buddha and his doctrines. The right hand is in vitarka mudra but held close to the breast, thereby expressing the incomparable attainment of Bhodi, the mind of clear light. All three figures float upon spiraling clouds.

Carved from a single piece of fragrant camphor wood, this work has retained almost all the lacquer layer, which smooths the faces and lends a softness to the shadows. The rhythmic linearity of the entire composition, with the garments of the two side figures blowing outward from the center and the large spirals rising up from below infuse a sense of energy and chi flowing through the work. Traces of original coloration are present though worn in shades of green, red and black.