The Eleven-Headed Kannon is one of many manifestations of the Bodhisattva of Compassion. This large wooden sculpture was created during the Heian Period in the early 10th century by an unknown artist. The artist’s anonymity is typical of religious works from this time period, which were often created in guilds or workshops. This sculpture was “carved in the round” meaning that it is fully three-dimensional and meant to be viewed from all angles, as opposed to being carved favoring the frontal point of view. During the shift from the Nara period to the Heian period, wood became the primary material for sculpture. The body of the bodhisattva was created primarily from one log that was hollowed out. The method of carving from one log of wood is called ichiboku (“one piece of wood”).

This means that the head, trunk, and legs would have been carved from one piece, while the arms would have been hewn from different wood and attached. The smaller heads were sculpted from separate pieces of  wood. This was common during the Heian period, but would have been unique in regards to Japanese history as a whole. The hollowed belly of the bodhisattva would have carried polished stones and historic documents about the piece. Over time, the hands broke off, and some of the crown heads have been replaced with new heads. The bodhisattva would have originally been decorated with various colors. Although the sculpture no longer appears polychrome, there are still traces left from the Heian period. 

Quinn Havlicek, Class of 2025, College of the Holy Cross