Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara

KOREA; Goryeo dynasty

Thought to date from the mid-14th century, this is one of the few surviving Goryeo dynasty paintings that portray Avalokitesvara with multiple heads and arms. According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra, upon hearing the dharani, Avalokitesvara wished for a thousand hands and eyes in order to relieve the suffering of sentient beings. In the painting, the Bodhisattva sits in full lotus position on a patterned lotus throne supported by a white lotus. A black nimbus surrounds the multiple heads. Two hands are joined in front of the chest and hold lotus flowers. The other hands are spread out within the circular mandorla and carry Dharma instruments. Three Buddha images are painted in black discs above Avalokitesvara. Sudhana, with palms joined in reverence, looks up at the Bodhisattva from the lower left corner.