Antique White Robed Guanyin on a Hǒu, China(16963BKE) $725

$725.00

H: 15.125”  W: 6”  D: 5” | FREE SHIPPING

This extremely unique and charming White Robed Guanyin sits on her mount, a Hǒu, the mythical guardian beast who is the intermediary between the will of heaven and humans. Finely carved from one dense piece of wood, this Hǒu, although generally a forceful beast, is a gentle Buddhist creature curled around Guanyin’s side with mouth open bearing his tongue, well-defined hoofs, and flat tail. Guanyin sits  in lalitsana her right hand clasping a rosary. Her mature face leans forward with half closed eyes and smiling lips. This Popular Religion provincial folk version of Guanyin is modestly dressed and devoid of jewels and is a small yet powerful carving

 

Description

Guanyin images with her on a Hǒu (Hou) are syncretic, worshipped by Buddhist, Taoist and Popular Religion devotees and were often portrayed as White Robed Guanyin. These  Images are quite unique and are rarely placed on home altars as are other Guanyin images, although this one is consecrated so it may have been on a home altar.  Hǒus were also sometimes decorative motifs on Chinese furniture. The Hǒu is considered one of the most powerful of Chinese mythical animals revered for its ability to gather and guard money for its masters and defend them from evil. In Mahayana Buddhism the Hǒu resides on sacred Mount Sumeru with a lotus on each side and Buddhist rosary prayer beads. As Guanyin’s mount, it is the master of the universe symbolizing righteousness and morality and heaven’s mandate to usher in peace and prosperity. It resembles a Buddhist or fu lion with its open mouth in a roar symbolizing the power of Guanyin over the forces of nature. Guanyin is one of the Great Chinese Goddesses who display infinite compassion for all those in distress. In this consecrated antique-Chinese-wood-carving in gilt and red, the color of fu, she sits in lalitsana holding her rosary reflecting her devotion to Buddhism. This carving retains much of its gilt, polychrome, and lacquer and is in very good condition. It is part of the VA Collection of Buddhist-Art.

Click here for the Blog Consecrating Wooden Images to Imbue Them with A Life Force.

Additional information

Weight 5 lbs
Dimensions 18 × 12 × 6 in
Place of Origin

China

Period

Antique, Qing Dynasty

Date

19th Century

Materials and Technique

Wood

Dimensions (inches)

15.125” W: 6” D: 5”

Dimensions (metric)

Ht: 38.4cm W: 15.24cm D: 12.7cm

Weight

3 lbs 11 oz

Condition

Very good, patina and wear consistent with age and use

Reference Number

16963BKE

Shipping Box Size