The
real problem lies in the subjective interpretation of this famous face:
what sort of emotion does it convey? Many have seen it as a generally benevolent
expression, as befits an image of Kannon. Yet an air of mystery still lurks
about this face. Some have seen the mystery as basically introspective,
and have compared it with the rather self-satisfied look of the most famous
smile in Western art, that of the Mona Lisa.