Youryuu Kannon　楊柳観音

KEY WORD :　art history / iconography

Also called Yakuou Kannon 薬王観音. Lit. "Willow Kannon" or *Kannon 観音 with a willow branch, who was propitiated for the recovery from illnesses. One of the thirty-three manifestations that the spirit Kannon, an Indian deity from the Mahayana Buddhism pantheon Sanjuusan Kannon 三十三観音 (see *sanjuusanshin 三十三身), may take to aid those in need. SHOU KANNON KYOU 請観音経, a scriptural source for the Six Kannon *Roku Kannon 六観音, mentions the offering of a willow twig and pure water to Kannon. Since the Tang dynasty it has been believed that disasters could be warded off by making such an offering . The willow twig, in fact, has appeared in various forms, for example, in one of the hands of Thousand armed Kannon *Senju Kannon 千手観音. A document from the period of Retired Emperor Shirakawa 白河 (1053-1129) states that an image of *Byakue Kannon 白衣観音 enshrined in Shingon-in 真言院 of the Imperial Palace was holding a willow branch *Nyoirin Kannon 如意輪観音 may be depicted as holding a vase with a willow twig or the vase may be set near him. A more commonly identifiable Youryuu Kannon may be shown as wearing flowing robes, sitting on a rock in the ocean . A boy in a boat also may be shown near him, an image found in KEGONKYOU 華厳経 where Zenzai Douji 善財童子 visits to Kannon in a boat during his quest for wisdom.

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