Japanese Temple Rubbing of Amida Buddha Figures. Temple rubbing showing nine images of the Amida Buddha in alternating inverted black and white images.

Overall Size: 16 x 13 in. 

Sight Size: 12 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. 

Temple rubbings are impressions made by placing paper over carved stone or wood reliefs in temples and then gently applying ink or graphite to capture the raised designs, preserving imagery that might otherwise be inaccessible or slowly eroding. They became especially known in China and Southeast Asia, where ancient temples contain intricate scenes of deities, warriors, dancers, and mythic beasts. The process produces bold, graphic images with a striking interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the original carving’s lines, textures, and symbolic meaning. Beyond being artistic objects, temple rubbings serve as historical records, allowing the visual language of sacred spaces to be studied, collected, and appreciated far from their original settings.

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