sanjuusanshin 　三十三身

KEY WORD :　 art history / iconography

Abbreviation of Kannon sanjuusanshin 観音三十三身. The 33 forms in which, according to the *Kannon 観音 chapter of the Lotus Sutra HOKEKYOU 法華経, Kannon will appear to aid sentient beings. These include, for example, the forms of a Buddha, a monk, a child, a dragon, an official, or a deity. The point is that Kannon appears in any form appropriate to the situation of the person who calls on him; and stories about the miracles of Kannon do not restrict themselves to these forms. As they appear in art the 33 forms are unlike those listed in the Lotus Sutra, and presumably correspond to forms of Kannon in popular worship. The 33 forms in art are: Youryuu 楊柳 (*Youryuu Kannon 楊柳観音) Ryuuzu 龍頭, Jikyou 持経, Enkou 円光, Yuuge 遊戯, Byakue 白衣 (*Byakue Kannon 白衣観音) Renga 蓮臥, Takimi 滝見, Seyaku 施薬, Gyoran 魚籃, Tokuou 徳王, Suigetsu 水月, Ichiyou 一葉, Shoukyou 青頚, Itoku 威徳, Enmei 延命, Shuuhou 衆宝, Iwato 岩戸, Noujuo 能静, Anoku 阿耨, Amadai 阿麼提, Youe 葉衣, Ruri 瑠璃, Tarason 多羅尊, Hamaguri 蛤蜊, Rokuji 六時, Fuhi 普悲, *Meroufu 馬郎婦, Gasshou 合掌, Ichinyo 一如, Funi 不二, Jiren 持蓮, Saisui 灑水. Some of these, such as Byakue, are well known forms of Kannon, while most are otherwise unknown. 33 Kannon in each form are collectively known as Sanjuusan Kannon 三十三観音. Sets of the 33 forms of Kannon may surround main images of Kannon, as at Ishiyamadera 石山寺, Shiga prefecture. The concept of 33 forms is the basis for the pilgrimage circuits to 33 images of Kannon, the most famous of which is the saigoku junrei 西国巡礼. The pilgrimage can also be accomplished in a model form, as at Ishiyamadera, where a circuit can be made of 33 stone Buddhist images *sekibutsu 石仏 in the temple grounds. The images of the pilgrimage do not correspond to those of the 33 forms and chiefly conform to early images of more familiar iconography, such as *Senju Kannon 千手観音, *Juuichimen Kannon 十一面観音, *Shoukannon 聖観音, and *Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音. Also see *henge Kannon 変化観音

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