ikkō sanzon 一光三尊

A triad of Buddhist statues arranged in front of a large nimbus *kōhai 光背, that framed all three statues from head to toe, *kyoshinkō 挙身光. The nimbus is usually in the shape of a lotus petal, and each attendant often also has his own head-halo *zukō 頭光. This iconic type originated in China. The Shaka sansonzō 釈迦三尊像 in Hōryūji *Kondō 法隆寺金堂 is a typical Japanese example dating from the Asuka period. Amida triads in the Zenkōji style *Zenkōji shiki Amida sanzon 善光寺式阿弥陀三尊 followed this form in later periods.