7 Renga Kannon

This is a Kannon bodhisattva created in China, named because of its pose: sitting with hands clasped together on a lotus in a clean pond, it is facing completely sideways. The lotus flower is considered symbolic of the teachings of Buddhism, and a statue of a bodhisattva holding a lotus flower is also depicted in the Ajanta Caves, a Buddhist site dating to the 2nd century AD.

“Ga,” one of the characters used in the name, implies “to lie down,” indicating that sitting in a reclined position is welcome. This Kannon bodhisattva seems to float atop a pure lotus in the water as if it were a boat, so it is said to help protect those on maritime journeys and against shiprwrecks and accidents at sea.