Shorinji Temple: Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara
Cypress wood
Shorinji Temple: Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara
JAPAN, Nara, Sakurai; Nara period
The statue was created during the late Nara period (710–794) and was originally kept in Daigorinji Temple. The statue was moved to Shorinji Temple after the Daigorinji Temple was damaged during the Meiji period (1868–1912). The head and torso of the statue were carved from a single piece of cypress wood to which other parts were joined and details molded using the wood-core dry lacquer technique. It was listed as a National Treasure in 1951.
The Bodhisattva wears a crown with 10 heads, although one of the heads is missing. The figure clasps a vase of lotus buds in the left hand and both arms are wound by stoles that loop in front of the skirt. The figure stands on a multi-layered lotus pedestal that measures 78.1 cm.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture N-Sr, page 1067.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Lovelock, Yann and Chou, Yuan and Huntington, Susan and Edson, Gary and Neather, Robert,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Sculpture N-Sr},
pages = 1067,
title = {{Shorinji Temple: Eleven-Headed Avalokitesvara}},
volume = 12,
year = {2016}}