11-faced kannon --- meaning of each face

1. Eleven-Faced Kannon
(十一面観音)
1000 Speakers Conference in English
Noriko Nagura, Jan, 2017

2. Kannon
Kannon belongs to Bosatsu group
←Nyorai
←Bosatsu
←Myo-oh
←Tembu

3. 1000-armed Kannon is one form,
and 11-faced Kannon another.
Kannon Changes its Appearance
in 33 Forms

4. 11 Faces to Watch the World Carefully!
 11-faced Kannon at Hase
temple in Kamakura
Kannon watches the
world carefully with
many eyes, to find people
who need help!
 Kannon is ready to
help people!

5. 11 Facial Expressions are Fixed
When seen from the above…
Nyorai
Laughing
Merciful
Merciful
Merciful
Angry
Angry
AngrySmiling
Smiling
Smiling
 Smiles for
faithful people
 Anger
against evils
 Laugh away difficulties
 Mercy to save people

6. - 「日本のフシギ英語で解明」by 松本美江
“The Wonders of Japan Explained in English” by
Yoshie Matsumoto
- 「日本の仏像」by 薬師寺君子
“Buddha Statues in Japan” by KimikoYakushiji
- 「仏像のひみつ」by 山崎勉
“Secrets of Buddha Statues” by Tsutomu
Yamazaki
References