This is a bronze statue of Saint Shinran 親鸞聖人 by Seibo Kitamura 北村西望. Saint Shinran was the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect, who lived from the late Heian period through the Kamakura period. He inherited the teaching of "Hongan Nembutsu" from Saint Honen, which states that "chanting the Nembutsu will guarantee salvation," and showed that anyone can be saved through Amida Buddha's original vow. This teaching, known as "Tariki Hongan," is the foundation of Jodo Shinshu. Life of Saint Shinran Birth and Monkhood: Born in Kyoto in 1173 (the third year of the Joan era), he became a monk at the age of nine and trained on Mount Hiei for 20 years. Meeting with Saint Honen: At the age of 29, he left Mount Hiei and deepened his teachings under Saint Honen. Exile: At the age of 35, he was persecuted by the Imperial Court and exiled to Echigo. Teachings in Kanto: After his exile was pardoned, he did not return to Kyoto but moved to Kanto, where he spent nearly 20 years spreading the teachings of Nembutsu, mainly in Hitachi Province. During this time, he began writing his major work, the "Kyogyoshinsho Monrui: A Guide to the True Truth of Pure Land Buddhism" (Kyogyoshinsho).  Later Years: He returned to Kyoto around the age of 60 and worked to complete the "Kyogyoshinsho."  Nirvana: He passed away in 1262 (the 2nd year of the Kocho era) at the age of 90.  Major Teachings Tariki Hongan: The teaching that salvation is achieved not through human power (jiriki), but through the compassionate wish of Amida Buddha (tariki).  Akunin Shoki: This means that evil people are the true targets of salvation.  Faith: He teaches that faith in Amida Buddha's original vow is central to salvation.  Works Kyogyoshinsho: This major work captures the essence of Shinran Shonin's teachings. "Tannisho": A record of the words of Saint Shinran by his disciples, the teachings of Saint Shinran are written in simple language. Seibo Kitamura (December 16, 1884 - March 4, 1987) was a Japanese sculptor from Nagasaki Prefecture. His real name was Nishimo Kitamura. In addition to his most famous work, the "Nagasaki Peace Statue" in Nagasaki Peace Park, he also created other notable sculptures such as the "Itagaki Taisuke" statue in the National Diet Building. He was awarded the Order of Culture. Seibo Kitamura passed away in 1987 at the age of 104. He was a recipient of the Order of Culture and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, as well as being designated as a Person of Cultural Merit. In recognition of Seibo's achievements, the Japan Sculptors Association established an award named the "Seibo Kitamura Award" (Seibo Award) for the best work at the association's exhibitions. Height 31.7 cm Width 15.5 cm Depth 12.3 cm Weight 2690 g Condition: The condition is good. There are stains, scratches, and scuffs due to aging. There is almost no peeling of the paint. It was stored at home. There are many photos, so please take a look. Atention: The items listed for sale are all used collectibles. Please consider them to have signs of aging, such as stains, scratches, scuffs, tears, discoloration, fading, fraying, and changes in thread color. We will post as many photos as possible to make it easy to understand. As these are old items, we appreciate your understanding before making a purchase. Shipping: The lot will be carefully packaged and shipped from Japan. We will use either DHL or FedEx for a safe and secure transportation. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks for delivery, and the package will be shipped with a tracking number. Import duties, taxes, VAT, and any other charges are not included in the item price and shipping cost. Please check your country's import duties before bidding. 101921581027