The Taima Mandara is a Pure Land Buddhist tapestry. The name of the piece comes from the Taimadera temple in which it was found, in the late 13 th century. Scholars believe it was made in the eighth century, though it is more likely that the religious icon was imported from China. The inspiration for the mandara stems from the words of Chinese patriarch Shandao (613-681 CE), a very prolific and successful Pure Land teacher. The tapestry is a pictorial representation of his teachings.
As a religious artwork, practitioners would use the Taima Mandara to visualize and meditate on the Pure Land, as a way of identifying themselves with the depicted deities. It shares the common characteristics of mandala with a deity in the center, and a circular or square configuration which radiates outwards. The Sanskrit word “mandala” means circle. The Japanese word is mandara, which can encompass religious pieces besides Esoteric mandalas. Pure Land mandara are depictions of sacred, usually palatial, realms where the faithful are born after death to experience the teachings of the Buddha, hoping to reach enlightenment.
In the center of the Taima Mandara is the Amida Buddha (meaning “Measureless Light” or “Measureless Life”). He sits on a lotus throne, hands in a teaching mudra, with the bodhisattvas Kannon on the left and Dai-Seishi on the right. New believers are being born in the lotus flowers in front of the bodhisattvas. The outside frame of the mandara is three narrow rows of pictures of well-known legends, along with Chinese text. The entire effect is meant for the practitioner to visualize on, and to create a three dimensional Pure Land for themselves. Through doing this, they can obtain enlightenment.