Have you ever wondered, when visiting a temple, 'Why are there Kannon with many hands or Kannon with angry faces, even though they are the same deity?'
In the Aizu region, numerous Kannon deities, such as "Aizu Korori Three Kannon" and "Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites," are enshrined. Just putting your hands together can cleanse your heart, but knowing the "meaning of the form (design's code)" that the statues hold transforms historical exploration into surprisingly academic and intellectual entertainment.
This time, let's unravel the secrets of the "Kannon (Bodhisattva)" that you think you know but may not, and the uniquely diverse Buddhist figures you can encounter in Aizu.
What kind of Buddha is a "Bodhisattva"?
Buddha statues can be broadly categorized into four tiers: "Nyorai (Tathagata)," "Bodhisattva," "Myōō (Wisdom King)," and "Teng (Heavenly Beings)."
The "Bodhisattva" to which Kannon belongs is a being who is training to become the highest rank, "Nyorai." The model is the form of the "Buddha during his princely days," adorned with luxurious accessories and garments (heavenly robes) before attaining enlightenment.
The elite trainee monk running around the scene
Each Bodhisattva has a designated "master (Nyorai)," and Kannon's master is "Amitabha Nyorai."
While standing beside Amitabha Nyorai, the elite trainee monk who tirelessly runs around asking, "How can I save everyone from suffering?" is the Bodhisattva, closest to us humans.
[Thirty-Three Transformations] The ultimate customer support
The greatest characteristic of Kannon (Kanzeon Bodhisattva) is the overwhelming compassion to "change one's form to match the other party."
In the sutra called the "Kannon Sutra," it is written that Kannon transforms into "33 different forms" (Thirty-Three Manifestations) to save people, adapting to their situations. For the elderly, she becomes an elderly figure; for children, she takes on a child's form; for soldiers, she appears as a soldier. It truly is the ultimate customer support.
The reason why Kannon and the number "33" are paired together in places like "Sanjuusangendo" and "Aizu Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites" is because of this.
Encounter in Aizu! Representative "Transforming Kannon" figures
To respond to the deep concerns of people, Kannon further transforms into forms with even more special abilities (Six Kannon, Seven Kannon). Let's take a look at the representative forms that can actually be encountered at the sacred sites in the Aizu region.
|
Types of Kannon |
Characteristics and design codes |
Main temples you can encounter in Aizu |
|---|---|---|
|
Seikannon |
[Basic Form] A human-like figure with one face and two arms. In the left hand, it holds a water jar filled with purifying spiritual water and a lotus. |
Toriiwai Kannon (Nishi-Aizu Town) |
|
Eleven-faced Kannon |
[Omnidirectional Radar] It has 11 faces (compassion, anger, laughter, etc.) above its head and finds suffering people in all directions. |
Nakada Kannon (Aizumisato Town) |
|
Thousand-armed Kannon |
[Infinite Rescue Tool] The strongest form that saves people without missing anyone with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. A rational calculation that saves 25 worlds with one hand (25×40=1,000). |
Tachiki Kannon (Aizubakuhatsu Town), etc. |
|
Nyoirin Kannon |
[Thinking Kannon] Sitting with one knee raised and resting its chin on its hand, pondering 'How can I save them?'. It crushes worldly desires with the 'Dharma wheel' it holds. |
Kannon-ji (Kitakata City) |
|
Bato Kannon |
[Angry Kannon] With a horse on its head, it consumes human worldly desires as a horse eats grass. It features a rare angry face (Fury aspect) for Kannon. |
Mount Umadake (Bandai Town) |
Use it on tours! A 'connoisseur' perspective on viewing Buddhist statues
Finally, here are two slightly 'in-the-know' viewing points that will make you think, 'Oh, they really get it,' when you visit a temple.
① Look for the small Buddha above the head (Kebutsu)!
Please take a close look at the head of Kannon (the crown). Is there a small Buddha attached? This is called 'Kebutsu,' representing the master (superior) of that bodhisattva. The master, 'Amitabha,' is seated on Kannon's head. It's like an employee ID saying, 'I am a subordinate of Amitabha.' Just knowing this reveals the connections between the statues.
② Pay attention to the 'base' at the feet!
The base on which the Buddha stands also has meaning.
Lotus Seat: The lotus that blooms beautifully from the mud. A symbol of achieving enlightenment purely even in the world of desires (often seen with Buddhas and bodhisattvas).
Shitsushitsu Seat / Iwaza: A base that looks like rough rocks. It represents a strong and unyielding will, often used for wrathful Buddhas (such as Fudo Myoo).
A journey to satisfy your intellectual curiosity in 'Buddhist City Aizu'
How was that? The number of hands and possessions of Kannon, as well as the shape of the base, all carry a deep reason and historical design of 'wanting to save you.' Standing in front of the Buddhist statues in Aizu with this knowledge, you should hear a completely different message than before.
At 'Tabinoito,' we offer tours in an academic style where guides explain the depth of Buddhist art and the historical background of sculptors who colored the eras (such as Unkei and Kaikei) in an easy-to-understand manner.
If you have a curiosity like, 'I want to know more deeply about the meaning of Buddhist statue designs' or 'I want to experience the worldview of mandalas I saw in textbooks at an actual temple,'
why not join us for an in-depth fieldwork experience in 'Buddhist City Aizu'?
[The ultimate academic tour connecting the dots of history]
A journey that goes beyond just a stamp rally, feeling the breath of the people of that time.
Our dedicated guide will explain the mysteries of history spread throughout Aizu.
First, feel free to consult us via LINE.
