A beautiful figure of Kannon Bosatsu in gilded wood. This figure of the bodhisattva of divine mercy and compassion was originally part of an ensemble of three statues depicting the Welcoming Descent (raigo), in which the Amida Buddha and his attendants (Kannon & Seishi Bosatsu) descend from the Western Paradise to welcome newly deceased souls.
Kannon Bosatsu places the spirit on the lotus pedestal (missing) and transports the spirit to the Pure Land, while Seishi Bosatsu presses his hands together in prayer for the spirit.
Here Kannon leans forward on a lotus base with a flaming mandorla.