Kannon Bosatsu
12th/14th century
Medium
Wood with traces of polychromy
Dimensions
83.9 × 36.9 × 36.9 cm (33 × 14 1/2 × 14 1/2 in.)
Classification
wood
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
87308
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This figure of Kannon, the bodhisattva of divine mercy and compassion, was originally part of an ensemble of three statues depicting the Welcoming Descent (raigo), in which the Amida Buddha and his attendants descend from the Western Paradise to welcome newly deceased souls. Here Kannon leans forward and extends a lotus pedestal (now lost), on which a soul would be carried into paradise. The idea of raigo was incredibly reassuring to Buddhist devotees, who, when close to death, used sculptures a...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...