・年代：平安時代 12世紀
・法量：36.1cm
Statue of Kannon Bodhisattva
Era: Heian period, 12th century
Dimensions: 36.1 cm
興福寺千体観音の一体と伝えられる像。その名の通り千体からなる群像でしたが、800年以上の時が流れるなかで朽ちて破損、加えて明治時代の廃仏毀釈の際に風呂の薪として燃やされるなど、多くが失われました。本像も両腕や膝前に二重にかかる天衣、台座は古いものが失われて修理で補っており、当初は右手に持つ蓮の蕾に左手を添え、その花弁を開く姿だったようです。おだやかな顔、薄く華奢な体、衣文が略される点などに平安後期の特徴がみられ、素朴な表情が愛らしい観音像です。
This statue is said to be one of the thousand Kannon statues of Kofuku-ji. As the name suggests, it was part of a group of a thousand statues, but over the course of more than 800 years, many have decayed and been damaged. Additionally, during the anti-Buddhist movement of the Meiji period, some were burned as firewood for baths and many of them were lost. This statue has also lost its original arms, the celestial robe that drapes over the knees, and the pedestal, all of which have been repaired. Originally, it seems to have depicted a figure holding a lotus bud in the right hand with the left hand supporting it, opening the petals. The calm face, slender body, and simplified drapery are characteristic of the late Heian period, and the statue's simple expression is endearing.