Antique Nanhai Guanyin, China (19508)

Description

This Ming/Qing Nanhai Guanyin sits on a round pedestal rock at her Cave on Mount Putuo represented by arched overhead covering and indentations symbolizing the cave’s bottom. In lalitsana (royal ease), she draws her right leg up with relaxed arm and hand resting on it.  Her left arm holds a scroll symbolizing the dharma or Lotus Sutra which describes Guanyin’s magnificence. The parrot on her right symbolizes piety. The Pure Land is home to parrots who help those who have achieved rebirth in the Western Paradise. On her left is a vial with amitra, the precious dew of compassion, healing and immortality she uses to bless all beings. Five lotuses hold her up – the middle fully open, 2 sides partially open and farthest ones symbolizing potential for devotees to reach enlightenment. Her oval face is bent forward with downcast eyes in  contemplation. In this provincial carving she is a matronly figure but with gilt on her robes.As a Great Chinese Goddesses (Irvin), Guanyin is worshipped by Buddhist, Taoists, and Popular Religion devotees.  This provincial image was made for a home altar with some remaining gilt and pigmentation and is in very good condition for its age and use although there are losses to the surface, part of the overhand is missing and the vial and parrot were replaced at a later time. Small Nanhai altar images complete with rocky formation, vial and parrot are extremely rare.

Source:
Lee Irwin, “Divinity and Salvation: The Great Goddesses of China,” in Asian Folklore Studies, Indiana University, Vol. 49, 1990, pp 53-68.