Hachiyozan Tendaiji Temple
Main Image Standing Wooden Sho Kannon (Keisen Kannon) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
Impression TagsDepthStillnessNobility
DescriptionThe standing wooden Sho Kannon worshipped as the principal image of Hachiyozan Tendaiji Temple is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The 116.5 cm statue is carved from a single piece of katsura wood and is thought to date from around the 11th century, in the middle Heian period. On the front, chisel marks are intentionally left visible in the distinctive nata-bori technique, while the back is finished smooth. Temple tradition says that Gyoki carved the image from a katsura tree in the mountains, bowing three times for each cut, and it has long been revered as “Keisen Kannon.” Today the original is housed in the Cultural Property Repository behind the Main Hall, while a replica is enshrined in the Main Hall. It is a highly worthwhile destination for seeing one of northern Tohoku’s representative ancient Heian Buddhist images in person.
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