Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Descent of Eleven-Headed Kannon

mid–late 16th century
Not on view
Kannon is one of two bodhisattvas who flank the Buddha Amida on his descent to deliver the recently deceased faithful to his Pure Land, the Western Paradise. Here, Kannon in his eleven-headed form descends alone upon a bank of clouds to meet the believer. His right hand is open to bestow compassion and encircled by crystal prayer beads, while his left hand holds a lotus in a vase, representing the healing power of the Buddhist Law. The haloed topmost head is that of Amida, the Buddha of Infinite Light. Kannon’s attendant relationship to Amida is made explicit by the standing figure on the crown and the rays of light that emanate in all directions from his golden form.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 十一面観音来迎図
  • Title: Descent of Eleven-Headed Kannon
  • Artist: Unidentified artist
  • Period: Muromachi period (1392–1573)
  • Date: mid–late 16th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 36 1/2 × 15 1/2 in. (92.7 × 39.4 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 70 × 22 7/16 in. (177.8 × 57 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 70 × 24 in. (177.8 × 61 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Gift of Mrs. J. Watson Webb, 1930
  • Object Number: 30.72.3
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Korea
Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara
Unidentified artist
14th century
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armor (Gusoku)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Portrait of Shun'oku Myōha, Unidentified artist Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk, Japan
Portrait of Shun'oku Myōha
Unidentified artist
ca. 1383
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)
Japanese
16th century
Grapevine and Squirrels, Unidentified artist, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Korea
Grapevine and Squirrels
Unidentified artist
early 19th century

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.