Gracefully enthroned upon a blossoming lotus, this Bosatsu radiates quiet clarity Holding a lotus blossom in the right hand and raising the left in a gesture of reassurance, the bodhisattva exudes gentle compassion. With hands held in the gesture of devotion, the bodhisattva appears suspended in luminous serenity, framed by delicately layered halos and flanked by ethereal blossoms. Above, a garland of lotus flowers drapes like a celestial canopy, while the richly patterned garments and fine detailing in gold leaf evoke the refined devotional aesthetics of the Edo period. This figure very likely represents a classical or slightly esoteric interpretation of Shō Kannon, the Sacred Form of Avalokiteśvara, one of the 33 manifestations of Kannon in Japanese Buddhism. Shō Kannon is often portrayed seated in contemplative repose upon a lotus pedestal, bearing a lotus, and displaying a serene, compassionate demeanor. Crowned and adorned with princely ornaments, Shō Kannon appears as a timeless protector of beings in distress. A lotus in hand is a common attribute of Kannon while the left hand open with palm facing outward at chest height is can be interpreted as a variation of the abhaya mudrā (gesture of reassurance or blessing), though it may also reference a localized esoteric gesture. In this vertical triptych, the central figure is flanked above and below by a Siddhaṃ seed syllable and a single lotus flower respectively. The seed character representing Brahmā, one of the celestial deities (tenbu) derived from Brahman, the supreme cosmic principle described in the Brāhmaṇa texts and the Upaniṣads. Brahman came to be conceived as the ultimate essence underlying the universe. Over time, Brahmā emerged as a personified form of this principle, eventually replacing Prajāpati as the creator god responsible for bringing all things into being and is revered as the sovereign of the Brahmā-world (Brahmaloka), one of the highest realms of existence.
Ink, color, and gold on silk, it maintains the original silk mounting patterned with clouds over applied gold leaf terminating in etched brass rollers typical of Buddhist art. The scroll is 31 x 161 cm (12-1/2 x 63-1/2 inches) and is in overall fine condition, with some wear do to centuries of handling. It comes in an old wooden storage box.
