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Nyoirin Kannon: The Wish-Fulfilling Bodhisattva of the Six Avalokiteshvara
Nyoirin Kannon is one of the Six Kannon, a bodhisattva who holds the wish-fulfilling jewel and Dharma wheel, saving sentient beings in all six realms with six arms. Renowned for the contemplative pose known as shiyui-so, celebrated images are enshrined at Okadera, Kanshinji, and Domyoji.
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Author
Hijiri
| Shrines & Temples
Contents
MOKUJI
一
What Is Nyoirin Kannon?
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二
Nyoirin Kannon Among the Six Kannon
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三
Famous Images of Nyoirin Kannon
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四
Related Spots for Pilgrimage
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What Is Nyoirin Kannon?
Nyoirin Kannon is the Japanese name for the bodhisattva known in Sanskrit as Cintāmaṇicakra. “Nyoi” refers to the wish-fulfilling jewel (nyoi-hōju), and “rin” refers to the Dharma wheel (hōrin) — the symbol of the Buddha’s teachings. Together, the name evokes a bodhisattva who grants all wishes and spreads the Dharma. Nyoirin Kannon has been venerated in Japanese esoteric Buddhism, particularly in Shingon and Tendai traditions, since the Heian period.
The Contemplative Pose (Shiyui-so)
The most distinctive feature of Nyoirin Kannon is the shiyui-so pose: the right hand resting gently against the right cheek, conveying deep contemplation. This posture represents the bodhisattva silently devising ways to save all beings trapped in the six realms of existence.
Six Arms for Six Realms
Most images of Nyoirin Kannon feature six arms (roku-pi), each symbolizing the salvation of one of the six realms of existence. Common attributes held in the hands include the wish-fulfilling jewel, the Dharma wheel, a lotus flower, and prayer beads.
Nyoirin Kannon Among the Six Kannon
The Six Kannon (Roku Kannon) are six forms of Avalokiteshvara, each assigned to protect beings in one of the six realms. Nyoirin Kannon is consistently included among them in both Shingon and Tendai Buddhism.
Kannon
Realm Protected
Attributes
Sho Kannon (Holy Kannon)
Hell
Two hands joined in prayer
Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed)
Hungry Ghosts
Thousand arms and eyes
Bato Kannon (Horse-Headed)
Animals
Horse head atop the crown; wrathful expression
Juichimen Kannon (Eleven-Faced)
Asuras
Eleven faces gazing in all directions
Juntei Kannon (Quasi-Purity)
Humans
Eighteen arms; feminine character
Nyoirin Kannon (Wish-Fulfilling)
Heavenly Beings
Six arms; wish-fulfilling jewel and Dharma wheel
Famous Images of Nyoirin Kannon
Japan preserves many celebrated Nyoirin Kannon images from the Nara and Heian periods. Three in particular are essential to know.
Okadera Temple in Asuka, Nara, houses the largest clay Buddhist statue in Japan — a Nyoirin Kannon measuring approximately 4.6 meters in height. Clay sculpture (sozo) uses a wooden armature overlaid with clay, a technique introduced from Tang Dynasty China. This statue is a designated Important Cultural Property.
Kanshinji Temple in Kawachinagano, Osaka, enshrines a Nyoirin Kannon that is a National Treasure. Dating to the early 9th century, this small yet exquisitely carved image is considered one of the finest examples of Heian esoteric sculpture. It is a hibutsu (secret Buddha) displayed only on April 17 and 18 each year.
Domyoji Temple in Fujiidera, Osaka, holds another National Treasure Nyoirin Kannon, associated with Sugawara no Michizane, who visited the night before his exile to Dazaifu.
Related Spots for Pilgrimage
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Okadera (Ryugaiji) — Asuka, Nara. Japan’s largest clay Nyoirin Kannon; Japan’s first exorcism sacred site
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Nyoirinji Temple — Yoshino, Nara. Mausoleum of Emperor Go-Daigo; Southern Court heritage
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Kanshinji Temple — Kawachinagano, Osaka. National Treasure Nyoirin Kannon; Kusunoki Masashige’s family temple
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Taimadera Temple — Katsuragi, Nara. Ancient Nara-period temple; center of mandala devotion
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Hasedera Temple (Nara) — Sakurai, Nara. Pilgrimage site No. 8 of Saigoku; giant eleven-faced Kannon
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Nyoirin Kannon seated image at the Osaka City Museum of Art — a classic example of the six-armed contemplative pose
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Nyoirin Kannon at Okadera (Nara) — known as Japan's largest clay Buddhist statue
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Kanshinji Temple (Kawachinagano) — an ancient Shingon temple dedicated to Nyoirin Kannon, associated with Kusunoki Masashige
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Nyoirinji Temple (Yoshino) — a temple enshrining Nyoirin Kannon in Yoshino, associated with Emperor Go-Daigo
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
The eleven-faced Kannon standing image at Hasedera (Nara) — a representative large image of Juichimen Kannon, one of the Six Kannon
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
── 了 ──
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Author
Hijiri（ひじり）
Shrines & Temples
Toku editorial team — shrines and temples. Former designer who reads temple architecture and gardens through an aesthetic lens, quietly tracing the lineages of sects and doctrines.
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Visit Related Places
History truly comes alive when you visit in person. Choose your next destination from the related sites and pilgrimage courses below.
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