厨子入馬頭漢音坐像|Portable Shrine with Batō, Horse-Headed Kannon (Hayagriva Avalokiteshvara)

Unknown

ca. 1620 · Fruitwood with cut-out gold; lacquered case with maki-e decoration · Asian Art

This gorgeous lacquer shrine protects a miniature statue of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, who can appear in six different incarnations, one for each of the six realms of existence (rokudō). The multiple faces and arms are signs of the bodhisattva’s supernatural powers. The outwardly fierce, horse-headed Kannon was popular in Japanese warrior society because of his role as protector of animals, especially horses.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1620

Medium

Fruitwood with cut-out gold; lacquered case with maki-e decoration

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of Far Eastern Art Gifts, 1985