Japanese Buddhist Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu Buddha Statue

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Japanese Buddhist Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu Buddha Statue

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Sold Date: 02/04/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Japanese Buddhist Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu Buddha Statue

This is a wonderful mid Edo-Period wooden depiction of a sitting Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu. The statue sits on a wooden base consisting of plinth depicting the ocean with a rock dais (coming out of the water) that supports a double lotus dais on which the Kannon sits.

This Kannon statue was carved using the yosegi zukuri (joined-block) method, which involved the joining of multiple blocks of hinoke (Japanese Cypress) together in order to form the whole, but still often hollow, statue. This method helped to prevent splitting, while also creating an extremely lightweight statue.

The Kannon statue is in very good condition, with most of its original gilding and lacquer intact and in stable condition. The Statue has even managed to retain most of its decorative metal and glass bead ornamentation that is so often lost on older Bosatsu statues like this one. T are some losses, with the statue missing 3 of its 6 arms (2 right and 1 left). In addition t is some loss to the upper portion of the mandorla and a portion of rock on the right side of the base. Other than that, this piece is in excellent condition, especially considering its age. The statue has a heavy accumulation of dust and a very nice patina as a testament to its age. The detail in workmanship on this statue is just incredible, and the face of this statue has a very serene and calming expression.

The Nyoirin Kannon is a prominent figure in Esoteric Buddhism that was introduced into Japan around the ninth century. The prefix nyo-i refers to the cintamani, (wish-granting jewel), and rin means wheel, and refers to the turning of the wheel of Buddhist law. Although iconographic drawings frequently depict this deity with two arms, the six-armed form was quite popular in Japan. In Japan, he is generally portrayed with his right hand touching his cheek and his left arm braced against the lotus pedestal on which he sits. Of the other four arms, one of the right hands holds a wish-granting jewel, and the other right hand holds a rope (lasso), while one left hand holds a lotus blossom, and the other left arm is raised with a wheel balanced in the open palm or on the tip of the upright index finger.

Kannon Bosatsu is commonly known as "The Goddess of Mercy" even though only 3 of his/her 33 different incarnations are actually female. If you look at many of the old Kannon statues (including Nyoirin) in Japan, you will often see his mustache or at least remnants of it. Kannon is the most popular Bosatsu figure in Japan and throughout much of the rest of Asia. Buddhist teachings tell us that Kannon had reached the full level of enlightenment and was ready to take the final step and enter into nirvana as a full Buddha, but refused to take this last step and opted instead to stay behind in an effort to help as many people as possible to attain enlightenment. Because of this, Kannon has achieved a status of popularity in Asia that is unsurpassed by any of the other Buddhist figures (including the Buddhas/Nyorai). In China, Kannon Bosatsu is known as Kwan Yin Bodhisattva (also spelled: Kuan Yin, Quan Yin, Kwan Yin, Qwan Yin, and Guanyin). Dimensions:

Height of Statue (including base): 22cm (8.65 inches)

Height of Kannon figure only: 10.25cm (4.12 inches)

Width (side to side) of base: 10.5cm (4.25 inches)

Depth (front to back) of base: 8.25cm (3.25 inches)