Water-Moon Kannon (Suigetsu Kannon)

Description

Kannon represents a primary figure of benevolence and compassion in the Buddhist pantheon. Identified early in Buddhist texts as a close attendant to the Buddha, by the 700s Kannon's popularity soared to such an extent in China, Korea, and Japan that the bodhisattva was often worshipped independently. Here at the lower left, Kannon is depicted with the child Zenzai Dōji (Sakskrit: Sudhana), a wealthy boy who, according to the final chapter of the Flower Garland Sutra, visited Kannon's abode Fudaraka (Sanskrit: Potalaka) during a long journey to learn the bodhisattva path.

Provenance

(London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–1992); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1992–)

Water-Moon Kannon (Suigetsu Kannon)

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1868–1912

Accession Number

1992.119

Medium

hanging scroll, ink, gold, silver, color, and cut gold-leaf on silk

Dimensions

Painting: 104.5 x 41.9 cm (41 1/8 x 16 1/2 in.); Overall with knobs: 188.9 x 64.8 cm (74 3/8 x 25 1/2 in.)

Classification

Painting

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund