Eleven-Headed Guanyin, 12th-13th century, late Northern Song-Jin dynasty (960-1234). Wood with polychromy and cut gold, 218.5 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1981.53.

This Guanyin is carved from a single block of willow (genus Salix sp.).

The bodhisattva is an enlightened being dedicated to the spiritual awakening of all beings. The compassionate bodhisattva Guanyin, in a variety of manifestations, is probably the most popular deity of worship in Chinese Buddhism. In the Esoteric Buddhist form shown here, this standing Guanyin has a total of eleven heads, with smaller ones above the principal head. The uppermost head represents the Buddha Amitabha, to whom he is closely related. The eleven heads symbolize the Buddha’s steps on the path to enlightenment.