Sanjusangendo Temple: Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara

JAPAN, Kyoto; Kamakura period

This masterpiece was created by master sculptor Tankei at the age of 82, according to temple records. The head and body of the Bodhisattva are made of twelve similarly sized rectangular cypress wood blocks that were lacquered and gilded. The eyes are inlaid with semi-precious stone. The statue was listed as a National Treasure in 1951.
The mustached Bodhisattva wears the rest of the heads about the crown, which is surmounted by a Buddha’s head. Like the head of the main figure, the Buddha’s head is also surrounded by a nimbus. The figure sits in lotus position on a lotus throne with two hands in anjali (reverence) mudra and below them another pair holding a jewel. More hands fan out on either side holding attributes and these are backed by an elaborate openwork mandorla. There are 33 small statues of Avalokitesvara’s manifestations around the periphery, above which stretches a canopy of pendent beadwork.
The statue is guarded on four sides by Heavenly Kings. Around the hall is an array of smaller Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvaras standing side-by-side in stepped rows of ten. One hundred and forty-two of these figures were part of the initial creation, while the remainder were added later.