Muroji Temple Golden Hall: Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara

JAPAN, Nara, Uda; Heian period

The life-sized Avalokitesvara is located within the Golden Hall at Muroji Temple and dates from the 9th century. The arms and additional heads were separately carved and attached to the main figure, while the aureole and nimbus are a later addition. The work was designated a National Treasure in 1952.
The tutelary Buddha head appears on top of the elaborately piled hair. The Bodhisattva’s additional heads, with faces showing a variety of emotions, are incorporated into a crown above the calmly compassionate features of the main face. The figure stands upon a layered lotus pedestal and holds a vase in the right hand, while the left hand is open in varada (wish-granting) mudra. Stoles fall from the shoulders to loop around the arms and skirt, then fall naturally at the sides. The ridged folds create an undulating effect in the continuous flow and intricacy of the drapery.
The crown decorations, the curved-leaf bracelet, the intricately worked necklace with its treasure wheel pendant, are all sculpted from thin copper wire. The main colors applied to the combined aureole and nimbus are green, red and cinnamon, with some other supplementary tints. The inner surface of both has a floral pattern, while the outer is foliated.