Eleven-Headed, Eight-Armed Avalokitesvara

CHINA; Qing dynasty

This Eleven-Headed, Eight-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva stands on a lotus pedestal. The heads are arranged in five rows. There are three heads in the first three rows, colored green, red, or white, and wearing golden crowns. In the fourth row, there is a single black wrathful head. The red head of Amitabha Buddha is at the top. The white face at the bottom smiles serenely with narrowed eyes. Avalokitesvara is adorned with large earrings, a necklace, armlets, and bracelets. A stole encircles the arms and billows out to the sides. Two of the hands join in front of the chest, holding a wish-fulfilling jewel. The remaining hands, except for the lower right hand which displays the varada (wish-granting) mudra, hold items including prayer beads, a Dharma wheel, a lotus, a bow, an arrow, and a vase. Green stoles float upwards beside the Bodhisattva’s legs. The nimbus takes on an interesting curving shape to accommodate all of the heads. Fine lines are painted within the black and orange aureole.