The standing Buddha Amitabha (Amida Nyorai)

Like the bronze Amitabha on the right side of this case, this figure stands in deep concentration. Both deities display a gesture composed of the right hand raised and left hand extended down, with the tips of both index fingers and thumbs touching. This gesture signifies the descent of Amitabha to the earth to welcome the soul of the deceased to his paradise, as taught by the Pure Land School of Buddhism. Many Amitabha images were produced from the twelfth century on, when Pure Land teachings became popular. Smaller statues like these were made for private worship.