17 Syuhou Kannon

This Kannon stands gracefully by a pond. It teaches us that when one goes out in search of treasure at sea and is on the verge of shipwreck, it is enough for just one crew member to pray, and everyone will be saved. The origin of the term “syuhou” comes from the Lotus Sutra and means “many treasures.”

This sutra praises Kannon’s almighty power and grants blessings in the form of ample wealth (treasure). This “treasure” is in fact the treasure of the heart, which means our Buddha nature.

The halo at Kannon’s back is almost always represented by a circle, but this Doukutsu Kannon is designed to accentuate her elegant appearance by likening the way silk dances naturally in the wind to a halo of light. Tokuzo Yamada saw success as a dry-goods merchant, and this is one of the most beautiful works in the collection, where you can truly see his attention to detail and commitment to the aesthetic. Upon completion of this work, Rakuzan Takahashi’s skills saw a dramatic improvement. While there is a certain boldness and rough-hewn aspect coming from his young age at the time, it is nevertheless impressive that he was able to make granite look so elegant and fluid, making it truly a work worth beholding.