装身具を纏わぬ質素な像形ながら、法衣や光背の荘厳たる表現によりその威光を余すことなく伝える阿弥陀如来の大作。座するのは阿弥陀如来の三昧耶形（それぞれの仏を表す象徴物）である蓮の花だ。
A great work of Amida Nyorai whose statue conveys the full majesty of them through the magnificent expression of their vestment and halo, although it has a simple form with no accessories. What they sit on is a lotus flower, the sanmayagyo (a symbolic object representing each Buddha) of Amida Nyorai.
正対するとその細やかさや鮮やかさから、刺青ではなく仏画を鑑賞しているような錯覚にさえ陥る。けれど筋肉の隆起を巧みに利用し、見る角度により慈悲や威厳といった異なる表情を呈する絶妙な構成は、人体をキャンバスとする刺青ならではの発想であると言えよう。
When you see this back piece face to face, its splendid detail and vividness could make you feel as if you are admiring a Buddhist painting, not a tattoo work. However, the exquisite composition that utilizes the muscle contour to create different expressions such as compassion or dignity depending on the angle of view is an idea that could only come from tattooing using the human body as a canvas.
阿弥陀の本義は“量り知れない光を持つ者”や“量り知れない寿命を持つ者”であり、空間も時間も超越し、あまねく衆生を救済するとされている。阿弥陀如来は西方浄土の教主であり、宗派によっては「諸仏中の王」や「光明中の極尊」であると説かれ、最も優れた仏として位置付けられる。
The meaning of Amida is “one who has immeasurable light” and “one who has an immeasurable life”, and they are said to transcend space and time to save all sentient beings. Amida Nyorai is the head of the Western Pure Land, and is described by some sects as “the king among the Buddhas” or “the ultimate deity among all light”, and is positioned as the most superior Buddha.
