Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Group of figures

Roku Kannon, Shichi Kannon and Hachidai Kannon

六観音・七観音・八大観音ろくかんのん・しちかんのん・はちだいかんのん

A grouping described as follows: the six Kannon who save people from the six realms are called the Six Kannon; because the Kannon in charge of the human realm differs between the Tendai and Shingon schools, both together are called the Seven Kannon; and with Yōryū Kannon added, they are called the Eight Great Kannon.

This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.

English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む

Kannon's compassion reaching the six realms

The Six Kannon express Kannon's work responding to the suffering of the six realms: hell, hungry ghosts, animals, ashura, humans and heavenly beings. Because the Kannon in charge of the human realm differs between the Shingon and Tendai lineages, there is also the grouping of the Seven Kannon, which includes both. This is a classification separate from the images of the Thirty-Three Kannon.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

The names and roles of the Six Kannon, Seven Kannon and Eight Great Kannon

A grouping described as follows: the six Kannon who save people from the six realms are called the Six Kannon; because the Kannon in charge of the human realm differs between the Tendai and Shingon schools, both together are called the Seven Kannon; and with Yōryū Kannon added, they are called the Eight Great Kannon.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

Tracing the form and traditions

Senju Kannon corresponds to the realm of hungry ghosts, Batō Kannon to the animal realm, Jūichimen Kannon to the ashura realm, Shō Kanzeon to the hell realm, Nyoirin Kannon to the heavenly realm, and Fukūkenjaku Kannon and Juntei Kannon to the human realm. The Six Kannon proposed by Tendai Daishi of China are said to have been the first, and in Japan the members are said to have changed somewhat.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)