National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

Senju Kannon is one of the Henge Kannon (a word commonly used to describe Kannon in supernatural form). It is actually called Senju-Sengan-Kanjizai-Bosatsu and its one thousand arms and eyes demonstrate the depth of its compassion. This painting is famous as a unique example of an authentic Buddhist painting stored in a wooden statue. Despite the damage, it can be presumed that the wooden statue was a Juichimen Kannon and made at the end of the Heian period. This painting seems to have made in an era a little earlier than that. It is relatively small, but the magnificence of the Senju Kannon itself, the pedestal and the Tengai (a kind of canopy) create a sense of dignity. The coloring is based on the contrast between red and green and several colors mixed with gold and silver leaves are simply but finely used to add a sense of openness to this painting. The many arms form a beautiful circle as if they are a part of a Halo and this contributes to reduce the degree of weirdness of the image. Most arms and weapons among various possessions based on a Kyoki were drawn as a draft, but they were intentionally omitted at the coloring stage. In addition, it seems the feature of a pot on the abdomen that is represented in a similar style as lacquer-coated furniture is ideal for personal worship.