Throughout the Kansai region of Japan there are 33 Buddhist temples with statues of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, at their entrances; they are the principal image of each temple. Kannon is known for her ability to take 33 different forms and to possess a variety of powers, and this is the reason why there are 33 temples. The pilgrimage of these 33 temples is known as Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.
The statues of Kannon can be found at all temples which are a part of the pilgrimage. These pictures are from Sekizan Zen-in Temple in the northeastern part of Kyoto where the statues are more than 100 years old.
