Skip to Main Content

Eleven-Headed Guanyin

十一面觀音菩薩

late 600s
(618–907)
wood
height: 62.9 cm (24 3/4 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1970.66
Location: not on view
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

The sculpture was made of different types of wood with different grain sizes and patterns, which are connected with wood pegs and glue.

Description

Guanyin, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion, can be identified by his attributes, carrying a tiny Amida Buddha in his crown, and holding a bottle with the nectar of life in his left hand. The eleven-headed Guanyin, in particular, has his eyes and ears open in all directions to hear, see, and help all those who are in distress. The garment and jewelry of this graceful figure remind us that the historic Buddha Shakyamuni was originally an Indian prince before he reached enlightenment. Upon his death, he entered nirvana, an eternal state free of desire and suffering, outside the realm of birth, death, and rebirth.

The dating and attribution of the figure as being from China needs further study.
Eleven-Headed Guanyin

Eleven-Headed Guanyin

late 600s

China, Tang dynasty (618–907)

See Also

Videos

On My Mind: Eleven-Headed Guanyin

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.