China: The Buddha Amitabha descencing from Pure Land. Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk, Ningbo, Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), 13th century

Amitabha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahayana school of Buddhism. Amitabha is the principal Buddha in the Pure Land sect, a branch of Buddhism practiced mainly in East Asia, while in Vajrayana Amitabha is known for his longevity attribute, magnetising red fire element, the aggregate of discernment, pure perception and the deep awareness of emptiness of phenomena.

According to these scriptures, Amitabha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmakara. 'Amitabha' is translated as 'Infinite Light', hence Amitabha is also called 'The Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Light'.

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