從釋迦、彌勒到阿彌陀佛,從無量壽佛到阿彌陀佛─北魏至唐的變化=From Sākyamuni、Maitreya and Amitābhabuddha Then From Amitāyus to Amitābha: The Changes Taken From The Northern Wei Dynasty to The Tang Dynasty
Amitāyus and Amitābha are two names of Amitābha Buddha. The two were translated into the term by different time showing the emphasis point on their innate meanings at the different periods of Chinese history. Amitāyus, the Buddha of Infinite life, was widespread during the Southern Dynasty, and Amitābha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, was the prevalence during the Tang Dynasty. The fact that the shift terms in using name of Amitābha Buddha has refected the fact that some change of Buddhist Belief has taken place during the Sui Dynasty and The Tang Dynasty, and this changes in belief had been truly displayed on the Buddhist sculptures carved in the Longmen Grottoes.