Kannon Hase-dera Talisman

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Isabella Stewart Gardner, founder of Gardner Museum, was an early American collector of Asian art with an affinity towards Buddhist artifacts.

Gardner returned from Asia in 1884 with a Japanese talisman very similar to the one shown here. Both talismans came from Kamakura Hasa-dera 長谷寺 and depict the temple’s main Kannon icon. Talismans (ofuda お札) are woodblock prints sold by various shrines and temples typically for their protective or salutary effects. They were also popular among Japanese pilgrims.

Printed on thin paper, pilgrims would often carry these talismans in a special bag called a fudabasami.

A close examination of the print shows small details, including this pagoda.

Buddhist imagery proved inspirational for Garder as she commissioned John Stewart Sargent to paint her portrait in 1888 which bears a strong likeness to the standing Kannon icon. A discussion of the portrait and its Buddhist influence can be read here: https://tinyurl.com/359r522m.

The Buddhas in the West Material Archive is a digital scholarship project that catalogues artifacts depicting Buddhist material culture for Western audiences. It’s comprised of prints, photos, and an assortment of ephemera and other objects. For a brief introduction to this archive, visit the main Buddhas in the West project page.

For Related Buddhas in the West Posts Featuring Kannon / Avalokiteśvara: