Antique Guanyin in Royal Ease (Lalitsana), China, #16910BOE

Description

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, artists created small scale icons of Bodhisattva Guanyin and other deities for private use on a home altar and in local temples and shrines. While more sanctioned images and those made for wealthier devotees were created in porcelain, jade, bronze and ivory, those created for Popular Folk Religion, Taoist devotees and those of few means were often crafted using soft stone and wood. Although a Mahayana Buddhist deity, Guanyin was also fully embraced by Taoists and Popular Folk Religion devotees, especially when depicted in certain popular manifestations. In some instances, popular myths and depictions became  official and sanctioned. Although she had 33 manifestations, during the Ming and Qing dynasties one of the most popular depictions was “white robed” Guanyin portraying her especially in painting as a simple image draped in white, her head covered in a hood-like garment to represent her beauty and compassion. Here, she is portrayed in lalitsana, the Pose of Royal Ease associated with her and symbolizing her as a regal personage, who presides over the material world and its possessions as well as the spiritual world. This position where one leg is folded and the other pendant with the arm graciously held on the bent knee, is reserved only for Buddhas, bodhisattvas and other regal personages. Her hands are in karana mudra, the primarily Taoist gesture to expel evil, remove problems and rid sickness or other negativities done with the thumb holding the two center fingers and the index and pinky fingers pointing straight outward. A finely carved piece, it is simple yet detailed with beautiful cloth folds as she sits on a beautifully carved lotus atop a low, parenthesis-shaped footed pedestal. The back cavity indicates itt was consecrated.  Mounted on a frosted Acrylic stand.