Japanese Standing Shō Kannon Figure

This late 19th-century standing figure depicts the sacred form of the bodhisattva Guanyin, known in Japanese Buddhism as Shō Kannon, or Guze Kannon. Described as the "Buddha of Infinite Compassion," Kannon is the embodiment of mercy and makes herself available to all who call upon her with all their mind.

Standing upon a lotus plinth, the figure is draped in flowing robes colored by traces of the original vibrant polychrome finish. Her right hand is held downwards in the varada mudra, a gesture of mercy, and her left hand once held a lotus bud, representing her vow to save those in the human realm.

Precisely carved with graceful details, her serene posture and piercing gaze command her surroundings with a sense of peace.