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阿弥陀佛（Amitabha）的中文含义，就是无量光。mita是梵文发音，意思是“量”，前头加上否定前缀“a”，意即“无量”。abha的意思是“光”。连起来读，Amitabha就是无量光。无量寿的梵文发音是Amitayus. 密教则以阿弥陀佛之应化身为无量光佛，其报身为无量寿佛。

Following after the many images of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni the next most common Buddha form to appear in art is likely to be Amitabha (immeasurable light, 无量光). His popularity is based in the Mahayana Sutra literature of which there are many texts devoted to him. In art depictions Amitabha has two appearances and two names that differentiate those appearances. When referred to as Amitabha he has the appearance of a standard buddha form, although red in colour, wearing the traditional patchwork robes of a monk. In his other appearance he has a different name, Amitayus (immeasureable life, 无量寿), and wears the clothing and jeweled adornments of a peaceful heavenly god according to the classical Indian system of divine aesthetics.

Amitabha(阿弥陀佛) and Amitayus(无量寿佛) are the same person, or entity. In the Mahayana Tradition of Buddhism a buddha is described as having three bodies: a form body (nirmanakaya,化身), an apparitional body (sambhogakaya,报身) and an ultimate truth body (dharmakaya,法身). The first, Amitabha is the form body and the second, Amitayus, is the apparitional body. The ultimate truth body is without appearance and does not appear in painting or sculptural art. The important iconographic difference between the two, Amitabha and Amitayus, is that Amitabha has Buddha Appearance (佛相) and Amitayus has Bodhisattva Appearance (菩萨相). Amitabha holds a black begging bowl(钵) in the lap with both hands. Amitayus holds a long-life vase (长寿瓶) in the lap with both hands. .

无量光佛(阿弥陀佛)和无量寿佛在造像姿态上，是相同的。身体红色，全跏趺坐，双手结定印，即双手手心向上，左手在下，右手在上，相叠置于脐间。但在法器和穿着上微有差异。无量寿佛一般头戴宝冠身披璎珞，盛装菩萨一般，手捧宝瓶一只，瓶中生出宝树。无量光佛通常穿着简朴些，空手或捧钵。如果宝座下有孔雀驮负，则是法身阿弥陀如来本尊。在显宗或汉传佛教中，阿弥陀佛的造像为右手下垂，掌心向前作与愿印，左手持莲华。手作与愿印，表示众生的往生之愿和阿弥陀佛的接引之愿相互摄引，阿弥陀佛能与愿众生；手持莲华，因为极乐世界的众生不是胎生，而是莲华化生。由于自己的愿力和佛菩萨的悲愿，不须父母为缘而化生莲华中。莲华为出于淤泥而清净，离一切烦恼得身心清净成为圣者。修念佛生净土即化生莲华。阿弥陀佛以莲华接引众生来住此国佛刹。

常见的无量寿佛(阿弥陀佛)造像按形象可分为:

1. 无量寿佛(Amitayus)
2. 阿弥陀佛(Amitabha)
3. 无量寿佛(阿弥陀佛)立像(Standing)

深度阅读: 辨识佛像-阿弥陀佛(无量光佛)和无量寿佛

参考文献:
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• 无量寿佛(阿弥陀佛)全部造像列表(001-100)

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唐宋 (早期-12世纪)

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清代 (18-20世纪)

• 无量寿佛(阿弥陀佛)造像搜索