One-petal Kannon (The Bodhisattva Kannon Crossing the Sea on a Lotus Petal)
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Ink |
| Current Location: | Unknown — sold at Christie’s New York in 2020; subsequent owner/location not publicly disclosed. |
| Location History: | One-petal Kannon was created by the Japanese Zen monk and painter Sesson Shūkei (1504–1589) during the Muromachi period. Although the exact date of the painting is unknown, the work has a documented history of ownership beginning with the Matsuzawa Family Collection. It was later held by S. Yabumoto Ltd. in Tokyo before being acquired by Mathias Komor in New York on 7 March 1975. It subsequently became part of The James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection in Chicago. The work was later sold at Christie’s New York in 2020. Its current owner and location are not publicly disclosed. |
Sesson Shukei’s One-petal Kannon depicts the Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon crossing the sea on a single lotus petal, with a large rising moon visible in the background. The waves beneath the petal add movement to the painting. The work is a hanging scroll made with ink on paper and is signed and sealed by the artist. Although only ink is used in the making of this painting, the subtle variation in the density of the brushstrokes adds dimension to the painting. Sesson Shukei (1504–1589) was a Zen monk and painter. The image of Kannon crossing the sea can be seen as a metaphor for a journey between the physical and spiritual worlds, as crossing water is often used as a metaphor in Buddhist literature. However, the most notable feature of the artwork is the contrast between the vast sea and the fragile lotus petal on which Kannon stands. This contrast makes the figure appear calm and stable despite the movement and vastness of the sea. The Zen Buddhist context of the artwork also allows these elements to be understood as powerful metaphors for spiritual strength. By depicting Kannon standing on a single lotus petal floating on the waves, the artist can be interpreted as emphasizing the ability of spiritual strength and compassion to help a person overcome material challenges.
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