Title: A Copper Hanging Statue of the Maria Kannon, Circa 1700-1750. A Rare Kakure Kirishitan Statue of the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus Disguised as the Bodhisattva Kannon, or Avalokiteśvara
Condition: Very Good
A rare, Mid Edo Period, early to mid 18th century example of a copper hanging statue of the Maria Kannon, displaying the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus disguised as the Bodhisattva Kannon, or Avalokiteśvara.
A product of the Kakure Kirishitans of Edo Period Japan, the Maria Kannon was a visual method of how the Hidden Christians of Japan kept Marian worship alive by combining both Christian and Buddhist iconography. Ultimately Avalokiteśvara was the bodhisattva most commonly utilized to conceal images Mary and Christ, and the Marian practices and icons. In the Buddhist view, bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who delay escaping the cycle of rebirth and suffering to help others attain awakening. And the thirty-three manifestations of the Kannon to save people in times of great need, that compassion and mercy, certainly parallels the Virgin Mary, which is likely also the line of thinking for using Kannon as a hidden substitute for the Christian icons.
This mounted statue was acquired from a Japanese dealer, who purchased the private estate of a retired local historian, and former member of the Cultural Properties Protection Commission. Having collected and sold or donated most of his private collection, roughly ten Kakure Kirishitan artifacts were kept and sold, among which include this piece and the Oribe-yaki piece also in this catalog. His decision to sell them was purportedly made with the hope that they would be passed on as part of the World Cultural Heritage "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region. It should be noted that among the other items in the collection, there was an original printing block for the Kami Fumi-E prints, as well as several other, early statues and pieces.
The statue has been mounted on an early circular block of wood, which has been further mounted onto a later, triangular wooden block. The way it has a piece of rope at the top with a loop, it is likely it was meant to be displayed as a hanging Buddha, somewhat similar in fashion to early Chinese magic mirrors.
One copper statue, mounted on wood, 46.7 x 41 cm later mount size, 20.8 x 20.8 cm main copper statue
This statue is in very good shape, with a bit of rust and some oxidization to the copper. There is old wear and scuffing to the wooden mounts.