Omido Kannonji Temple: Standing Eleven-Headed Kannon
(Juichimen Kannon Ryuzo)
The principal deity of Omido Kannonji Temple is a Standing Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva statue thought to have been enshrined here since the temple’s foundation. Made in the Nara period (710–794), it is one of only seven of its kind recognized as a National Treasure of Japan. The one at Kannonji is thought to have a particularly serene expression, with features that exude a gentle femininity. The Kannon statue enshrined in this temple is made from a single piece of wood and was covered with a lacquer mixture. Only two of the standing Eleven-Headed Kannon statues recognized as National Treasures are made in this style.