Appearance of the Body - Ougenshin

…Images of the Holy Kannon are described in most scriptures, both esoteric and exoteric, but their appearance can be divided into those described in esoteric scriptures and depicted in the Mandalas of the Two Realms, and those described in exoteric scriptures. Exoteric Kannon images are described in the Sutra of Contemplation of Immeasurable Life and the Sutra of Immeasurable Life, and are depicted as attendants of Amida Tathagata in the Pure Land, and those described in the Lotus Sutra and the Sutra of the Great Buddha's Head Sutra, and appear in various forms according to various situations to save all living beings (manifest bodies). The Lotus Sutra's Kannon Bodhisattva Universal Gate Chapter describes 33 manifest bodies.…

*Some of the terminology explanations that refer to "Ogenshin" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…聖観音像は，密教と顕教とを問わずほとんどの経典に説かれているが，その像容は，密教経典に説かれ両界曼荼羅の中に描かれるものと，顕教の経典に説かれるものとに分けられる。顕教的な観音像は《観無量寿経》《無量寿経》などに説かれ，極楽浄土にあって阿弥陀如来の脇侍として表されるものと，《法華経》《大仏頂首楞厳（りようごん）経》などに説かれる，一切衆生を救うためさまざまな状況に応じてさまざまな姿に変じて出現するもの(応現身)とがある。《法華経》観世音菩薩普門品には33の応現身を説く。…

※「応現身」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報