This nine-foot copper statue at Daci’en Temple represents Maitreya. The divine being resides in Tusita. The Pure Land of Buddha is one of six deva worlds. This heaven is where Sakyamuni (Gautama Buddha) lived before being born on earth and founding Buddhism. In the future, Maitreya will also come to earth with additional teachings. The cult of Maitreya Buddha reached its peak from the 4th to the 7th century. The first monk of Daci’en Temple, Xuanzang, was an avid believer and aspired to reach Tusita after death.
