Antique Nanhai Guanyin with Aureole and Acolytes, China #16428LMK

Description

Nanhai Guanyin in meditation (dhyana mudra) in her Tidal Cave on Putuo is one of the most popular Mahayana Pure Land Guanyin images, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Irvin includes Guanyin as one of the Great Chinese Goddesses who are all imperially sanctioned and epitomize the feminine role of compassionate protectors who grant health, long life and safety to all regardless of their social position. Provincial craftsmen, as here,  portrayed her in to reflect local beliefs and lifestyles that resonated with common people rather than the imperially approved formal iconographic prescriptions and their statues appeared everywhere in village, community, and clan shrines and especially on home altars. She sits on a pedestal framed by a large oval mandorla that extends behind her body, shaped as a pointed lotus petal with concentric bands and bordered with stylized flames symbolizing her divine light. Her two acolytes, Shan Tsai  (now lost to deterioration) and Longnü, the Dragon Princess holding the Precious Gem are placed in front of her. Unlike most similar images composed of a separately carved backdrop and attendants, the piece was carved from a single piece of wood.  Its original polychrome,  gilt and  lacquer have faded and there there are surface losses and age cracks and partial loss of the pedestal.  Despite this, the piece retains its spiritual and serene charm. Her crown is centered with Amitabha Buddha in meditation bordered by the flames of Buddhism. The bell-shaped back cavity indicates it was consecrated.

Click here for the Blog The Emergence of Nanhai Guanyin.

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