15 Itoku Kannon

This Kannon, with a lotus in the left hand and seated on a rock, gets its name in Japanese from the concept of virtue and authority. Pray before this Kannon to receive a blessing of strong will. All of the Doukutsu Kannon statues by Rakuzan Takahashi are masterpieces carved from a single block of stone and employing extensive detailed techniques like openwork and filigree. The stone material used is the so-called “Obiro stone,” quarried in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, the hometown of Rakuzan Takahashi. One notable feature of this group of works is the halo effect seen at the back of the Kannon figures.

In most cases, the halos at the back of Kannon statues carved in stone have a simple structure that makes use of a disc shape or the original shape of the material. However, Rakuzan Takahashi’s works feature delicate openwork filigree, making them seem almost as if ivory or wood was used. These truly embody Takahashi’s aesthetic and are one of a kind. You must see them at least once for yourself.

This piece by Takahashi depicts a contemporary and sophisticated form of Kannon, with a silk robe sweeping in the wind being likened to a halo. The beautiful and mysterious appearance of Kannon is created entirely from stone, arguably a new frontier for modern Buddhist art.