16 Enmei Kannon

The term “enmei” in Japanese originally refers not to longevity and prolongation of life per se, but the idea that life creates life and extends in turn to other lives, thereby leading to human prosperity and individual happiness.

The motif here is of a figure sitting atop a rock while watching the flow of water, which symbolizes the “flow of life.”

However, it is also said that Kannon, who controls the prolongation of life, an inborn human instinct, also helps ward off and remove curses and poisons, extending the life span. In this work, Rakuzan Takahashi brilliantly depicts the image of a goddess with a hint of sorrow within.