Bato Kannon (Horse‑Headed Kannon) — Edo‑Style Carved Wood Devotional Figure, 40.8 cm — Esoteric Protector Presence

Bato Kannon (Horse‑Headed Kannon) — Edo‑Style Carved Wood Devotional Figure, 40.8 cm — Esoteric Protector Presence

Some Buddhist images comfort. Bato Kannon safeguards.

This carved wooden figure embodies Bato Kannon (Horse‑Headed Kannon), the fierce‑compassionate protector form of Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokitesvara). In Japanese esoteric devotion, Bato Kannon is invoked not for gentle consolation but for decisive protection: cutting through hindrances, dispersing calamity, and stabilizing the mind when life becomes volatile. The “wrathful” aspect is not anger—it is speed and force in the service of compassion.

At 40.8 cm tall, the scale lands in the collector’s altar‑centerpiece register: large enough to command a tokonoma or formal display niche, yet still intimate enough for private practice. This is the size tier collectors pursue when they want an object that reads as lived devotional heritage rather than decorative tabletop sculpture.

The defining identity marker is the unmistakable horse‑head iconography. Across Japanese lineages, Bato Kannon’s form can vary—standing or seated, single‑face or multi‑aspect—but the horse‑head signifier remains the anchor: a visual statement of swift rescue and obstacle‑breaking compassion. That clarity of iconography is part of what makes this figure feel serious and temple‑adjacent in presence.

Condition presents as honest age character: surface wear, abrasions, and small losses visible in the listing photography. For collectors, patina can function as evidence of life—incense, handling, and time—rather than a flaw. Acquire this as a character‑grade historic devotional sculpture, not a pristine showroom object.

Why collectors actively seek Bato Kannon: (1) rarity relative to standard Kannon imagery; (2) purpose‑driven iconography associated with removing obstacles and averting misfortune; (3) immediate sculptural drama that reads even to viewers who cannot name the deity; (4) strong coherence inside iconographic collections focused on Kannon variants and esoteric protector forms.

Collector Summary

• Deity: Bato Kannon (Horse‑Headed Kannon / Avalokitesvara protector form)
• Medium: Carved wood; aged surface (any historic finish/pigment described as “traces” only)
• Period: Presented as Edo‑period style (exact dating not proven; collector‑safe)
• Size: H 40.8 cm; W 21 cm; D 12 cm (from listing)
• Use case: Altar centerpiece / tokonoma presence / iconographic collection keystone

Condition

• Expect age‑consistent wear: surface abrasions, softened edges, small losses, and possible historic repair traces. Photos are the primary condition record.

Confidence & Verification Notes

• Deity identification is best‑fit based on visible horse‑head attributes; inscriptions/temple documentation are not provided.
• Period is stated as “Edo‑style / Edo‑period style” only—no precise year claim.