Antique Carved Female Taoist Attendant with Celestial Scarf, China (16726)

Description

Attendant figures were usually placed on home, community or temple altars in pairs flanking the revered deity or hero they honored. Female Taoist attendants represent female yin principles – receptivity and natural harmony – that complement masculine yang energy. In contrast to the overt power of yang, yin strength is soft and internal. In addition to being supportive figures, female attendants represent adherence to the core Taoist concepts of balance, femininity and connection to the divine.

In Taoist traditions, women have the unique ability to communicate with the divine. Female attendants were a link between the divine and the human realms and were messengers and facilitators of spiritual communication. Both female deities and attendants have long been associated with the path to immortality and spiritual evolution with attendants providing the nurturing and restorative process of this path.

This female attendant is an enlightened being indicated by her pendulous ears, blissful smile and flowing ribbons that wind gracefully around her head and upper body. Swirling ribbons behind a person or deity suggests weightlessness, flying through air or being in the heavens and signify the power of the individual they surround.

Her beautifully modeled and soft features emphasize her modesty and devotion, and  her downcast eyes and quiet, serene, demeanor reflect her inner peace and spiritual focus. This quiet and serene nature reflects the core yin qualities of flow, intuition and collaboration.

The appearance of female Taoist attendants varies based on the dynasty, the figure they attend and their specific function. Characteristic of this era, she wears a modest robe with a scalloped collar and long flowing sleeves, and her top bun is held with a thin decorative headdress.  She leans inward towards the figures she attends with her hands in front covered by a draped cloth holding an offering.

As a figure of quiet stillness and service, this attendant represents the female supportive, active and essential role of aiding others on their spiritual journey. This carving represents a powerful, selfless and dedicated form of devotion.

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