Bato Kannon (Skt: Hayagrîva)
There are many forms of the Kannon Bodhisattva, but only one exhibits fierce and menacing features: Bato Kannon or the horse-headed Kannon. The horse imagery is deeply symbolic. The Bato Kannon consumes the earthly desires and negative emotions of sentient beings in the same way a horse consumes grass and water. Five of Bato Kannon’s eight arms hold auspicious implements: an ax; a sword; a garland of beads; a dharma staff; and a dharma wheel. Bato Kannon uses these implements to bestow blessings or provide protection
The image is carved from wood and is 503 centimeters tall. Bato Kannon sculptures of this type are relatively rare; this is the largest extant image in Japan. The statue dates to around 1130.