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National Treasure Gallery: Senju Kannon (Sahasrabhuja)

Senju Kannon (Sahasrabhuja) (detail), Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure)

Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 2
May 14, 2019 (Tue) - June 2, 2019 (Sun)

This compassionate Buddhist deity, also known as the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara, has the power to find and help everyone in need of salvation. A closer look reveals an eye in the palm of each hand–a visual representation of this miraculous power.
This depiction of Avalokiteshvara also reflects a transitional period in Japanese painting. His full, soft face and the intricate patterns on his robe–created with thinly cut pieces of gold leaf–represent a 12th-century style. In contrast, the immortal sage standing to the right is rendered in thick, clear outlines, which reflect a Chinese-influenced style that became popular in the 13th century. These two contrasting modes of expression exist side by side in this work.

Major Work(s) on Exhibit 1 results

	Designation	Name		Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance	Period	Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number	CMT
Highlight	National Treasure	Senju Kannon（Sahasrabhuja）			Heian period, 12th century	A-10506

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