观无量寿佛经变【英】

Paintings of the Amitāyurdhyāna Sutra

定义

敦煌经变画之一，简称观经。在巨幅说法图两边绘“未生怨”、“十六观”的故事，“十六观”讲善男信女们通过观想等了解和“往生”西方佛国极乐世界之事。莫高窟、榆林窟、西千佛洞等处现存此经变近90幅。

Paintings of the Amitāyurdhyāna Sutra (Sutra of Contemplation on Amitayus Buddha or The Contemplation Sutra): located on the two sides of a large sutra illustration painting, depicting narratives of Ajatashatru and of the “Sixteen Visualizations.” According to the narratives, devotees can visualize the Pure Land and even attain birth in the Pure Land by performing the “Sixteen Visualizations”. Nearly 90 paintings of The Contemplation Sutra are currently found in the Mogao Caves, Yulin Caves, and the Western Thousand-Buddha Cave.