{"product_id":"kunii-dosei-unjo-kannon-zu-yoryu-willow-bodhisattva-clouds","title":"Kunii Dōsei Unjō Kannon-zu, Yōryū Willow Bodhisattva on Clouds, Signed Silk Hanging Scroll, Late Shōwa","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"jp-product\" data-world=\"Painted \u0026amp; Printed\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-lede\"\u003eKannon floats weightlessly through curling blue-grey clouds, a willow spray in one hand and a dark blue vessel in the other. Signed 道成 and consistent with the Buddhist painting of Kunii Dōsei, this silk scroll renders the Willow Kannon of healing and mercy with a fresh, luminous palette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Japanese Buddhist hanging scroll, signed 道成 and visually consistent with the Buddhist paintings of Kunii Dōsei 國井道成, portrays Kannon Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, floating through curling blue-grey clouds. Its probable title is 雲上観音図, Unjō Kannon-zu, Kannon upon the Clouds. She wears a magnificent golden robe patterned with delicate floral and scrolling designs over robes of soft green and luminous blue, and a subtle golden halo shimmers behind her head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn one hand Kannon carries a slender willow spray; in the other she holds a dark blue ritual vessel, traditionally understood to contain purifying water or the nectar of compassion. These attributes identify the figure as Yōryū Kannon, the Willow Kannon, a manifestation associated with healing, mercy, relief from suffering and compassionate response. The willow bends without breaking, yielding to wind and rain while remaining rooted, and in Buddhist imagery becomes a metaphor for compassionate strength; it is also linked with purification, protection and healing, and may be used to sprinkle sacred water from the vessel, whose contents are often read as amṛta, the nectar of wisdom and relief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKannon does not stand upon earth or architecture but moves alone through a boundless golden sky. Clouds in Buddhist art form a threshold between realms; here they gather in soft spirals of pale blue, blue-grey and misty white, rising around her feet, crossing behind the halo and opening into luminous golden distance. Without temple architecture, storm or crowded divine assembly, the viewer meets her presence directly, and the generous open space lends the painting a refined, almost modern clarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe face is finely drawn, with arched brows, delicately outlined eyes, a restrained mouth and an almost porcelain luminosity, the lowered gaze conveying complete composure. Her elaborate crown holds a small sacred figure, likely Amida Buddha, recalling Kannon's role as Amida's attendant in Pure Land tradition. A rich golden outer mantle with floral and scrolling designs, a softly patterned green stole, vivid blue lower garments, long green and brown ribbons floating in the celestial air, white and blue cords falling from the waist and delicate jewelry across the neck and chest form the visual heart of the painting. Fine ink outlining, layered mineral or traditional-style pigments, soft atmospheric shading, detailed textile patterning and controlled cloud modeling reward close viewing; the reflective particles in the halo and robe shimmer as the light changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe formal vertical kakejiku mounting surrounds the silk with a deep brown brocade woven with ornate gold floral and scrolling motifs, bordered above and below by softer beige and cream textiles with restrained woven patterns. Two narrow decorative hanging strips descend from the upper section, and the lower roller is finished with pale end caps. Known in Sanskrit as Avalokiteśvara and in Chinese as Guanyin, Kannon is the bodhisattva who perceives the suffering of living beings and responds with compassion, invoked for healing, protection, safe journeys and peace within the home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"jp-details\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Attributed to Kunii Dōsei 國井道成 (alternative reading Kunii Michinari), born 1951\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e 雲上観音図, Unjō Kannon-zu (Kannon upon the Clouds, Cloudborne Kannon), probable title\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara) as Yōryū Kannon, the Willow Kannon; popularly the Goddess of Mercy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Shōwa to early Heisei period, approximately 1970s–1990s (estimated)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vertical kakejiku (kakemono), Japanese Buddhist hanging scroll\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pigment with gold-toned or mica-like accents on silk; multi-textile Buddhist-style brocade mounting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gold, green and blue figure on blue-grey clouds and a golden sky; deep brown and antique gold brocade with beige and cream borders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarkings:\u003c\/strong\u003e Signature 道成 at lower right with red artist seal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roller ends present; storage box not shown in the photographs; no independent certificate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood vintage decorative condition; the central painting remains bright and clearly legible, with the face, robes, willow branch, vessel, clouds, halo, signature and seal well preserved.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeneral toning consistent with age, light spotting and scattered small marks, and minor discoloration in portions of the silk ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA faint vertical mark or stain to the right of the central figure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubtle rippling or waviness from rolling and storage, and light horizontal handling lines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor creasing within the mounting textiles, small marks and signs of use on the upper and lower fabric sections, and minor wear around mounting joins and exposed edges.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePossible slight fading of selected pigments; natural variation and patina within the brocade; age-related wear to the hanging cords and fittings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo major open tear or catastrophic loss is apparent. The scroll has not been examined outside its mounting, and historic repairs, reinforcement or minor restoration may be present where not visible; please inspect every photograph at full size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Artist\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKunii Dōsei, born in 1951 in Gifu, received early instruction from his father, Kunii Kōsetsu, before studying under Tsubouchi Setsutarō. He is known particularly for Buddhist painting, finely rendered figures, flower-and-bird subjects and traditional compositions, and his practice developed increasingly toward religious commissions, temple-related art and detailed devotional imagery. His birth year places this painting in the postwar Shōwa period or later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eIconography Glossary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKannon Bosatsu: infinite compassion and the willingness to respond to suffering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWillow branch: healing, flexibility, purification, protection, and strength that bends without breaking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSacred vessel: compassionate nectar, wisdom, cleansing and relief from suffering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClouds: passage between the human and celestial worlds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGolden halo: enlightened consciousness and sacred radiance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall Buddha in the crown: Kannon's association with Amida Buddha.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold robe: spiritual dignity, illumination and the precious nature of compassion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen: renewal, harmony and balance. Blue: wisdom, clarity and the limitless sky.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFloating ribbons: celestial movement and freedom from earthly weight.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHandling the Silk\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHandle the scroll with clean, dry hands, opening and closing it slowly while supporting the lower roller so the silk does not drop or crease. Avoid direct sunlight, strong ultraviolet light, damp rooms, heating vents, air-conditioning outlets, kitchen smoke, rapid humidity changes, contact with glass or acrylic, long continuous display and improvised cleaning. Traditional scrolls were displayed seasonally and returned to storage; rotating the work preserves its pigments and textiles. Dust should not be wiped from the painted silk, and any cleaning, flattening, repair or remounting should be left to a conservator experienced with Japanese paintings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA signed work attributed to Kunii Dōsei on the basis of the visible 道成 signature, red seal, subject and known Unjō Kannon-zu composition; with no signed box, certificate, exhibition label or documentary provenance, the attribution is offered without a formal authentication guarantee. The reflective areas read as gold-toned mineral, metallic or mica-like pigment rather than gold leaf; they have not been laboratory tested. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery from Japan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our \u003ca href=\"\/policies\/refund-policy\"\u003epublished policy\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-closing\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsidered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/japonista-layaway-privilege-program\"\u003eLayaway Privilege™\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContinue browsing: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/japanese-scrolls-traditional-paintings\"\u003eScrolls \u0026amp; Paintings\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/butsudan-japanese-altars-religious-objects\"\u003eButsudan \u0026amp; Altars\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-related\"\u003eRelated pieces: \u003ca href=\"\/products\/jizo-bosatsu-kakejiku-hanging-scroll-ksitigarbha-standing\"\u003eJizō Bosatsu standing lotus hanging scroll\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/products\/saigoku-thirty-three-temple-pilgrimage-nokyojiku-kannon\"\u003eSaigoku 33 Kannon pilgrimage nōkyōjiku scroll\u003c\/a\u003e · \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kano-sasshin-joun-attributed-rakan-arhat-hanging-scroll\"\u003eKanō Sasshin attributed Rakan Arhat scroll\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-cta\" data-world=\"Painted \u0026amp; Printed\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-cta-eyebrow\"\u003ePaper \u0026amp; Silk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScrolls, screens and prints can be examined, documented and conserved before shipping through the Restoration \u0026amp; Documentation Lab™. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/japan-art-restoration-condition-reports-japonista\"\u003eRequest a condition report →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-search\"\u003eCollectors also search: kunii dosei kannon scroll · unjo kannon-zu · willow kannon hanging scroll · yoryu kannon painting · kannon on clouds silk scroll · japanese goddess of mercy scroll · signed buddhist kakejiku silk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Japonista","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52767119802661,"sku":"SC 41","price":1318.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/8829\/6229\/files\/SC41_1.jpg?v=1784022292","url":"https:\/\/japonista.com\/products\/kunii-dosei-unjo-kannon-zu-yoryu-willow-bodhisattva-clouds","provider":"Japonista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}