Kogajinja Shrine: Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara with Dragon Queen and Sudhana

JAPAN, Gifu, Seki; Edo period

The sculptor Enku (1632–1695) visited the Kogajinja Shrine on three occasions and left behind numerous Buddha statues, of which this triad is among the larger in the collection. It was carved from a single block of pine wood, hewed length-wise, with no detail at the back. The cuts are swift and crisp, leaving their mark on the surface, its rugged appearance gives the wood life. The bodies are slender and upright, while the sides protrude in fin-shapes, conveying a feeling of upward movement.
The larger than life central image of Avalokitesvara stands barefoot on a lotus pedestal. The main face is tilted to one side and surmounted by the ten other faces ranged in tiers. The smiling appearance is common in Enku’s work, as are the simple lines of the eyes. To the right is Zennyo Ryuo (Dragon Queen) with a high headdress. She is the bringer of rain and thus associated with good harvest; consequently, she is widely worshipped. On the left of Avalokitesvara is Sudhana, with a curved body and a pointed head. The palms are joined in reverence and a single foot shows beneath the robe.