- XVII

B-1575

Unità di misura: cm; Altezza: 125.2

Bronzo fuso

According to an ancient Buddhist legend, the Bodhisattva Kannon tried to perceive at one time the total sum of the sufferings of all living beings; he was so overwhelmed with pain and fear that his head exploded into eleven fragments. Then the Amida Buddha collected all the pieces and transformed them into eleven heads, setting them in a crown on Kannon's head and gaving the upper one its own appearance. In this way he would have as many as eleven heads to reflect on all ways to help suffering beings. Kannon is the emanation of Amida, the Buddha of the West, as well the bodhisattva of compassion; this statue represents “Kannon with Eleven Faces” just as the legend says. The heads are arranged in a crown on three levels, Kannon also wears a diadem with an image of the Amida Buddha standing. The lower nine heads indicate the stages of the path to Enlightenment, while the upper one has the appearance of a Buddha and represents the full completion his journey to Enlightenment. The main head of our Kannon has a calm expression: its eyes are half-closed, and his expression encourages calm and serenity. The gaze is turned downwards, towards the right hand, which makes the gesture of the gift. The small heads are equal to three to three and have serene, frowning and furious expressions respectively that represent the "Three Hidden Treasures", the "Three Guardians" and the "Three Defenders". From the inscriptions engraved on the legs we learn that this statue was commissioned and offered "by Abbot Junrensha Hanyo and Chief Priest Nen'a Ryūen, for the beatitude of the parents in this world and in the Pure Land".