Willow Kannon
Sakai Hōitsu Japanese
Not on view
While Sakai Hōitsu is most closely associated with Rinpa, a dozen or so paintings of Buddhist deities by him and his circle are known today, in polychrome as well as in ink. Here, the miniature Amida Buddha in his tall crown, the willow branch in his right hand, and the vase in his left identify this deity as Willow (Yōryū) Kannon. The willow branch is believed to ward off evil and illness, while the bottle contains a nectar with healing powers. The outer cape, rendered with compulsive detail, suggests an otherworldly aura. The signature indicates that the painting was based on a model attributed to the Chinese Tang-dynasty master Wu Daozi. Nothing in Wu’s hand survives, however, and his work is known only through later copies and ink rubbings.
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