Monumental Thousand-Armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) Wooden Sculpture | Approx. 120 cm Tall

Object Type: Large wooden Buddhist sculpture depicting Thousand-Armed Kannon (Senju Kannon), a temple-scale image of compassion and active protection.

Curator’s Entry

This is a commanding, hall-present figure of Senju Kannon—the Thousand-Armed form of Avalokiteshvara, revered across Japan as compassion made operational. In iconography, the many arms are not ornament. They are a visual vow: the capacity to reach in countless directions, responding to countless forms of suffering. The surrounding openwork aura functions like a devotional architecture, framing the deity’s calm center as a moral and emotional anchor for the space.

A temple-scale figure of Thousand-Armed Kannon (Senju Kannon), offered here as a large-format wooden devotional sculpture of approximately 120 cm in height. Even at a glance, the work belongs to the iconographic family of compassionate “all-seeing / all-helping” Avalokiteshvara images: a calm central bodice, a radiating arrangement of multiple arms, and a halo-like openwork backdrop that reads as both aura and architecture.

In Japanese Buddhist material culture, Senju Kannon embodies mercy expressed as capability. The many arms are not spectacle; they are a visual language for vows made practical. Each hand symbolizes an active response to suffering: guiding, protecting, lifting, and rescuing. In temple halls, such figures function as a moral center of gravity—an image that turns compassion into a disciplined practice.

Who is Senju Kannon?

Senju Kannon is the Thousand-Armed manifestation of Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), the bodhisattva of compassion. The multiple arms symbolize the many ways compassion becomes action—guidance, protection, rescue, and relief. In Japanese worship settings, Senju Kannon images are sought for broad, practical blessings: safeguarding households, easing hardship, and cultivating a steady heart through disciplined devotion.

Specifications

• Approx. Height: ~120 cm 
• Material: Wood (polychrome/gilt appearance possible; confirm on inspection)
• Form: Standing Senju Kannon with multiple arms and halo/backboard

Condition

• Age wear consistent with long-term storage: surface soiling, scuffs, and patina.
• Base/foot damage / losses are noted in the listing text; treat as as-is with restoration potential.
• Exact age, school, and original temple context are unverified without documentation.

Collector Relevance

Senju Kannon sculptures in large scale occupy a special tier of Japanese sacred art: they are devotional images with architectural presence. Collectors seeking a serious, museum-forward installation—rather than a small cabinet object—will recognize the impact of a figure that reads at room distance and holds the gaze up close.

Collector’s Resonance

This piece is for the collector who wants compassion to feel tangible—an object whose very scale teaches patience, care, and reverence. It suits a dedicated alcove, a private study, or a gallery-like setting where the work can be approached slowly, from silhouette to detail.

Shipping & Logistics Intelligence

Estimated item weight (unpacked): ~14 kg (estimate).
Estimated safe packed weight: ~22–28 kg (double-box or crate, padding, bracing).

• Japan Post (EMS/Parcel): Likely not suitable due to size/handling risk; final feasibility depends on packed dimensions.
• DHL / FedEx / UPS: Possible if packed within carrier limits; expect dimensional weight pricing.
• Freight / palletized service: Recommended for maximum safety (crate + lift-gate where needed).

Shipping costs vary heavily by final packed size and destination zone; request a quote before committing.

Confidence & Verification Notes

Attributions regarding exact period, school, and original temple placement are not confirmed without accompanying documentation. Materials and surface finish (polychrome vs. later repaint vs. gilt) should be verified by close inspection. Condition is described from the listing and photographs and should be treated as as-is.