Shō Kannon Bodhisattva Why Nozomu Mori Continued

2026/07/03 16:06

Shō Kannon Bodhisattva

Why Nozomu Mori Continued to Carve Shō Kannon

Shō Kannon Bodhisattva carved by Nozomu Mori.

When people think of Japanese Buddhist sculpture, many may first imagine a professional Buddhist sculptor.

However, woodcarvers who do not specialize exclusively in Buddhist statues sometimes create Buddhist sculptures for personal practice and artistic expression.

This Shō Kannon Bodhisattva is one such work.

It was created by Nozomu Mori, a woodcarver of Mori Carving Studio.

Born in 1936, Nozomu Mori is 90 years old as of 2026 and continues to work actively as a woodcarver.

This work was created when Mori was 55 years old, during a quieter period between commissions, simply because he wanted to create it. It was not commissioned by a temple, but was carved for exhibition with the Shiga Buddhist Sculpture Association.

Nozomu Mori, woodcarver of Mori Carving Studio.

A Shō Kannon Created by a Woodcarver

Nozomu Mori is not a Buddhist sculptor by specialization.

For many years, he has worked across a wide range of woodcarving, including temple and shrine carvings, Buddhist altar fittings, signboard carving, and animal sculptures.

During quieter periods between commissions, he also created Buddhist statues and animal carvings out of personal interest.

This Shō Kannon is one of those works.

Over the course of his career, Mori has created more than ten Shō Kannon sculptures, and approximately seven remain in his collection today.

Each figure differs in expression and carved details, reflecting the experience he has gained through many years of working with wood.

Born from the Desire to Create

his Shō Kannon was not made as a commissioned work.

It was carved over time during a quieter period in the workshop because Mori himself wanted to create it.

At the time, Mori belonged to the Shiga Buddhist Sculpture Association, where he exchanged ideas with other Buddhist sculptors and regularly exhibited his own works.

This piece was also created for one of those exhibitions.

Rather than approaching the subject as a specialist Buddhist sculptor, Mori expressed Shō Kannon in his own way, as a woodcarver.

The serene expression and lotus are characteristic features of Shō Kannon.

What Is Shō Kannon?

Shō Kannon is one of the forms of Kannon Bodhisattva long familiar in Japan.

It represents the simplest and most fundamental form of Kannon Bodhisattva.

Kannon has long been revered as a compassionate being who listens to the suffering of people and offers salvation through mercy.

There are many forms of Kannon, such as Thousand-Armed Kannon and Eleven-Headed Kannon, but Shō Kannon is regarded as the basic form from which these manifestations developed.

It is often represented standing calmly, and the lotus held in the hand symbolizes purity in Buddhism.

Its serene expression and composed posture have made it beloved by many people, and images of Shō Kannon can be found in temples throughout Japan.

Nozomu Mori expressed this familiar form of Shō Kannon through his own woodcarving.

A Work Born from a Long Life in Woodcarving

This work is carved from Japanese camphor wood.

Camphor is durable and well suited for detailed carving. It has also long been valued at shrines and temples, and some camphor trees have been preserved as sacred trees.

As the years pass, the surface of the wood gradually changes, developing the quiet character unique to natural wood.

As of 2026, Nozomu Mori is 90 years old and continues to work as a woodcarver.

Created during a career spanning nearly 75 years, this Shō Kannon reflects the experience of a craftsman who has devoted his life to woodcarving.

Shō Kannon Bodhisattva by Nozomu Mori

The work introduced here is a Shō Kannon Bodhisattva created by Nozomu Mori when he was 55 years old.

It was not commissioned by a temple, but created at his own initiative and exhibited with the Shiga Buddhist Sculpture Association. Today, it remains one of the surviving Shō Kannon sculptures by the artist.

For those interested in Japanese woodcarving, traditional craftsmanship, or hand-carved sculptures, we invite you to discover this work.

Details such as dimensions, materials, and included accessories are available on the product page.

This sculpture reflects a lifetime devoted to the art of woodcarving.

This Shō Kannon reflects Nozomu Mori’s lifelong dedication to woodcarving.

Discover This Shō Kannon by Nozomu Mori

For detailed photographs, dimensions, and purchasing information, please visit the product page below.

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