There are Henge Kannon (The transformations in which Kannon (Deity of Mercy) appears in order to save sentient beings) which has many faces and many arms such as Juichimen Kannon (Eleven-faced Kannon), Senju Kannon (Thousand Armed Kannon) and Nyoirin Kannon (the Bodhisattva of Compassion), and Kannon which has one face and two arms and do not have a superhuman figure; the latter is called 'Sho Kannon (聖観音 or 正観音).'
観音像には十一面観音、千手観音、如意輪観音など、多面多臂の変化（へんげ）観音と、こうした超人間的な姿ではない、1面2臂の観音像とがあり、後者を指して「聖観音」または「正観音」と称する。