Futama Kannon of Kyoto’s Toji on public view at temple treasure house after repair

The Futama Kannon (See box below), a trio of wooden Buddhist statues owned by the Toji (otherwise known as Kyo-o-gokoku-ji) temple in Kyoto, is currently on a rare display in a special exhibition at the temple’s Homotsukan treasure house.

What is Futama Kannon?

     – A triad of statues made of sandalwood representing the Kannon Bosatsu (Avalokitesvara) in the center flanked by the guardian deities Taishakuten (left) and Bonten (right)

     – Height ranges from 21.7 cm to 24.9 cm

     – Made during the Kamakura period (12th-14th century)

     – Said to have been the principle object of worship at Buddhist memorials held inside the Imperial court

     – Came to be known as the Futama Kannon as it was kept in the futama (two-bay room) of the Imperial court

     – Brought to Toji during the Muromachi period (14th-16th century)

The government-designated important cultural property is used during Goshichinichi no mishiho (See box below), a New Year ritual of the esoteric Shingon Buddhism held every year at Kanjo-in, Toji’s subtemple.

What is Goshichinichi no mishiho?

     – A New Year ritual of esoteric Shingon Buddhism to pray for prosperity and peace

     – Started in 835 by Kukai (774-835), founder of the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism

     – Held at Kanjo-in, a subtemple of Toji (In ancient times, at the Imperial court)

     – Go-shichi-nichi (latter-seven-days) refers to the seven days of the second week of January (Jan. 8-14) when the ritual is held

     – Mishiho refers to the prayers and austerities of esoteric Buddhism

The ritual was established in 835 by Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, to pray for prosperity and peace at the Imperial court. After several centuries of practice, it was suspended as Japan entered the turbulent Sengoku (warring states) period (15th-16th century) and later resumed during the early Edo period (17th century). As Japan approached modernity, it was officially abolished in 1871, but revived at Toji in 1883.

The Futama Kannon triad is used on Jan. 12 during the week-long ritual in a service to make offerings to Avalokitesvara (Kannon Bosatsu).

The Tsumugu Project — a joint undertaking of Japan’s Cultural Affairs Agency, Imperial Household Agency and national daily The Yomiuri Shimbun (Tokyo) to support efforts to preserve Japan’s artistic treasures — provided financial assistance to help repair the triad in 2019. It was kept at Kyoto National Museum’s Conservation Center for several months to glue back on the kirikane (decorative patterns formed on the statue using gold foils) peeling off from its surface and for other purposes.

The special exhibition featuring the Futama Kannon will last until May 25, 2022. Yasuko Niimi, who is responsible for the protection of cultural properties at Toji, says: “We would like for viewers to take note of the scrupulous technique using gold foil cut into thin strips.”

Toji is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the major Buddhist temples in Kyoto frequently visited by international tourists.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun and other sources)