hiten 飛天

Flying apsaras. Heavenly beings invisible to the human eye, believed to fly with superhuman power and speed. Found in Middle-eastern, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese art. Buddhist depictions show apsaras flying over Buddha's pure land, praising Buddha by scattering flowers, playing instruments *gakuten 楽天, or burning incense. Important Japanese examples of apsaras include the wall paintings in Hōryūji *Kondō 法隆寺金堂 (rebuilt 693) Nara, openwork sculptures on the nimbus *hiten kōhai 飛天光背 of the Amida Nyoraizō 阿弥陀如来像 in Byōdōin *Hōōdō 平等院鳳凰堂 (1053) Kyoto, and wall paintings in Hōkaiji 法界寺(13th-14th century) Kyoto.