hiten kōhai 飛天光背

Also hitenkō 飛天光. Lit. flying apsaras nimbus. A halo *kōhai 光背, on a Buddhist image, decorated with heavenly beings *hiten 飛天, singing and dancing in praise of Buddha. The halo surrounds the whole image, and has a pointed peak *funagata kōhai 舟形光背. The hiten kōhai came to Japan from Northern Wei dynasty China and was used on statues from the Asuka period. The central Shaka Nyoraizō 釈迦如来像 (623) in Hōryūji *Kondō 法隆寺金堂 was an early example, but the hiten figures are unfortunately now lost. A famous example in openwork carving *sukashibori 透彫 is found on the Amida Nyoraizō 阿弥陀如来像 (1053) in Byōdōin *Hōōdō 平等院鳳凰堂 (Kyoto).