本作《千手千眼観世音菩薩》は、典型的な紅唐の体系に属し、赭紅を地として、大悲心の深広さと法界における無量の功徳の浄土を象徴する。画面中央には、観世音菩薩が白く清らかな身相で蓮華台の上に立ち、その背後には浩々たる円光が広がる。千手は層を成して展開され、千眼は十方を遍く照らし、全体の構成は厳密で壮大、法相は荘厳にして慈悲に満ちている。

菩薩の頭上には順に諸尊が顕れ、観音が諸仏菩薩の法脈を継承することを象徴する。上下左右には護法と眷属が配され、完全で堅固な壇城の構造を成す。線描は精密でありながら柔らかさを失わず、衣のひだは行雲流水のごとく、金線は繊細に流転し、紅地に映えていよいよ光明で殊勝である。
全体は天然鉱物顔料と純金によって描かれ、色彩は沈着で耐久性に富み、金彩は内省的で浮華に走らない。希熱布大師の深厚な伝承の力量と、長年の修行によって凝錬された法度と気韻を充分に体現している。

本作は単なる芸術珍品にとどまらず、観修と供養の意義を具えた殊勝なる法像である。

千手千眼観世音菩薩は、観世音菩薩の大悲の願力が究極に顕現した姿である。
「千手」は無量の方便を象徴し、あらゆる衆生を時に応じて救護する；
「千眼」は遍照の智慧を象徴し、世の一切の苦厄を洞察する。

経典に曰く：

もし衆生ありて、その名を称念せば、観世音菩薩はすなわちその音声を観じ、皆解脱を得る。

千手千眼観世音菩薩を供養し観修することにより、以下の殊勝なる功徳を具える：
• 息災除難：病苦・災厄・恐怖および不慮の障りの縁を解きほぐす
• 福慧増長：智慧を開き、福報を増し、身心を清浄安穏ならしめる
• 家庭と事業の護佑：家庭の和合、事業の順遂、貴人の助けを得させる
• 業障消除・冤結解消：大悲の願力により累世の業障を転じ、冤結を化解する
• 修行者を摂受：行者の悲心の増長を護持し、道業を堅固ならしめ、菩提より退せしめない

千手千眼の形は、まさに悲智円融、動静一如の象徴である。これを観じ、供え、念ずれば、いずれも内心を澄明へと還らしめ、外縁は次第に調順へと向かう。

This thangka, Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara, belongs to a classic Red Thangka tradition. Set against an ochre-red ground, it symbolizes the profound vastness of great compassion and the immeasurable realm of merit within the dharma-dhātu. At the center, Avalokiteśvara appears in a pure white form, standing upon a lotus pedestal. A boundless halo radiates behind, while the thousand hands unfold in layered arrays and the thousand eyes illuminate the ten directions. The overall composition is rigorous and magnificent, and the sacred form is both solemn and compassionate.

Above the Bodhisattva, a sequence of enlightened figures appears, symbolizing Avalokiteśvara’s inheritance of the dharma lineage of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Protective deities and attendants are arranged above, below, and to all sides, forming a complete and stable mandala structure. The line work is precise yet never loses softness; the drapery flows like moving clouds and running water. The gold lines circulate with delicate refinement and, against the red ground, appear ever more luminous and auspicious.
The entire painting is executed with natural mineral pigments and pure gold. Its tones are calm and enduring; the gilding is restrained rather than ostentatious—fully expressing Master Shirebu’s profound inherited mastery and the discipline and resonance refined through long-term cultivation.

This work is not only an artistic treasure, but also a sacred icon endowed with the significance of contemplation and offering.

Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara is the ultimate manifestation of Avalokiteśvara’s great compassionate vow-power.
“A thousand hands” symbolize immeasurable skillful means, enabling timely rescue and protection of all sentient beings;
“A thousand eyes” symbolize all-illuminating wisdom, discerning every suffering and hardship in the world.

The scriptures say:

If there are sentient beings who recite his name, Avalokiteśvara will observe their voices, and all will attain liberation.

Offering to and contemplating Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara encompasses the following extraordinary merits:
• Dispelling calamities and removing difficulties: resolving illness, disasters, fears, and adverse conditions
• Increasing merit and wisdom: opening insight, increasing blessings, and bringing purity and stability to body and mind
• Protecting family and career: fostering harmony at home, smooth progress in undertakings, and support from benefactors
• Transforming karma and resolving grievances: converting accumulated karmic obstacles through great compassionate vow-power and dissolving karmic entanglements
• Embracing practitioners: supporting the growth of compassion, stabilizing one’s path, and preventing regression from bodhi

The form of the thousand hands and thousand eyes is truly a symbol of the perfect union of compassion and wisdom, of movement and stillness as one. To behold it, to offer to it, and to recite it can all return the heart to clarity and gradually bring outer circumstances into harmony.