Portable Shrine with Batō, Horse-Headed Kannon (Hayagriva Avalokiteshvara)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This gorgeous lacquer shrine protects a miniature statue of Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, who can appear in six different incarnations, one for each of the six realms of existence (rokudō). The multiple faces and arms are signs of the bodhisattva’s supernatural powers. The outwardly fierce, horse-headed Kannon was popular in Japanese warrior society because of his role as protector of animals, especially horses.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art