Statue of Kannon
Kannon, Goddess of Unending Compassion, can take many different forms. Here she is presented as the White-Robed Kannon, identifiable by the pristine robe and headdress. Unlike the many historical and cultural treasures housed at Ninnaji, this work is a recent carving from 1974. The style of the statue is distinct from other Kannon statues within the temple grounds, such as in the Kannon Hall. Sculptural traditions in Japan and China began to diverge around the eleventh century, and as this image shows, the divide has since continued to create two distinct traditions. That said, this statue of the White-Robed Kannon does display elements of Chinese carving traditions, including the use of actual fabric in the adornment of the statue and the painting of pigments over it.