Taima Mandala, early 14th century, Unknown Japanese, 50 1/2 × 46 1/16 in. (128.27 × 117 cm) (image)90 1/4 × 54 3/8 in. (229.24 × 138.11 cm) (mount, height with roller; width without roller), Ink, color, gold, and cut gold leaf (kirikane) on silk, Japan, 14th century, This mandala represents Amida Buddha's Western Paradise or Pure Land, where the souls of fervent believers are reborn to continue their quest for spiritual enlightenment free from the difficulties associated with life on earth. In the center, Amida sits beneath a jeweled canopy surrounded by a host of other deities and worshippers. His splendid palaces are in the background and the sky is filled with flying deities and heavenly musicians. Amida faces a pond where the souls of the deceased are reborn on lotus blossoms.