13-14世纪日本(南北朝时期)木雕十一面观音(纽约大都会博物馆)

尺寸:高236.9cm
年代:13-14世纪 南北朝时期(日本)
质地:木雕
风格:日本
参阅:外部链接
来源:纽约大都会博物馆
鉴赏:

Jūichimen Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion with Eleven Heads (Avalokiteshvara)

Eleven-headed Kannon (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara) is an important bodhisattva in the esoteric schools of Buddhism. Atop the deity’s own head are eleven additional heads. Ten of these take the form of bodhisattvas and represent the ten stages toward enlightenment. The topmost head is that of Amida (Sanskrit: Amitabha), the Buddha from whom Kannon emanates. The fluid, deeply carved drapery follows a thirteenth-century sculptural style developed in Nara by the Kei school of Buddhist sculptors. However, the more decorative treatment 
of the robe and the heavy, solemn face suggest a fourteenth-century date for this imposing figure. It was originally installed at Kuhonji, a small Shingon school temple located northwest of Kyoto.