Juntei Kannon

Juntei Kannon (准胝観音) is honoured as the mother of countless buddhas, purity itself, and as a giver of children and protector of childbirth. Her image is rare in sculpture and more familiar in esoteric painting, where her many arms and three eyes make her unmistakable.

Japanese 准胝観音, Juntei Kannon; also Juntei Butsumo
Sanskrit Cundī
Rank Bodhisattva, or a buddha-mother
Recognise by Eighteen arms; three eyes; one face; often seated on a lotus
Realm Humans, among the Shingon Six Kannon

A disputed identity

The Shingon school counts Juntei among the Six Kannon, guarding the human realm. The Tendai school regards her as a buddha-mother rather than a Kannon, and places Fukūkenjaku Kannon in her stead. Images follow the same eighteen-armed form whichever name is used.

Identifying Juntei

Juntei has a single face with a third eye and eighteen arms. The principal hands form a mudrā at the chest, while the others hold a sword, a rosary, a vajra, a lotus, a jewel, a banner, an axe and a water vessel among other attributes. She is gentle in expression, which distinguishes her from the fierce multi-armed wisdom kings.

Juntei at Daigoji

Daigoji in Kyoto, founded in the ninth century by the monk Shōbō, built its first hall on the summit of Mount Daigo to Juntei and Nyoirin. The Juntei hall became a stop on the Saikoku pilgrimage, and Daigoji's lineage spread devotion to her among the Shingon faithful.

Collecting notes

  • Sculpted Juntei figures are scarce. Esoteric paintings and printed icons are the usual forms on the market.
  • Counting the arms and finding the third eye will separate Juntei from Senju Kannon, who has more arms and eleven heads.

In the collection

Browse Kannon figures and Buddhist paintings. Our collector concierge can search Japan for a Juntei image.

See also

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