Le Dieu Canon Fils d’Amida

Description

The engraving depicts the bodhisattva of compassion known as Kannon (Guanyin) in the Buddhist pantheon. The depiction of this figure as the "son of Amida" stems from the tendency of 17th- and 18th-century European travelers and engravers to interpret Japanese religious concepts through Western theological frameworks. In Buddhist tradition, Kannon is not the son of Amida (Amitabha), but is considered his manifestation of compassion. In the engraving, Kanon is depicted with 30 arms, seven male heads on his chest, and arrows in each hand. The multiple faces symbolize his ability to see the suffering of beings from all perspectives and respond compassionately to all.