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Mazu has many names and titles. In China she is Mazu (Matsu) meaning ‘Ancestor Mother’ or ‘Eternal Mother’ and on southern China she is affectionately called ‘Ā-mā’ meaning ‘grandmother’ or ‘mother.’ In Taiwan she is ‘Holy Heavenly Mother’ and the ‘Empress of the Heavens’ and ‘Tianhou,’ Daughter of the Dragon. She is the most worshiped female Taoist…
Given the auspicious images on this finely crafted red and gilt jewelry box, it was probably a wedding gift for a fortunate couple as a wish for fertility, harmony and many and sons. The doors have a carved lotus symbolizing beauty and purity and the top has 5 bats surrounding a longevity roundel. When depicted on a box, it means as “May you have a harmonious marriage with the Five Blessings” (longevity, health, wealth, virtue and a peaceful death) and signifies completeness, togetherness and harmony.
This fine pair of the Kitchen God and his wife are mirror-images of each other seated on backless chairs with multi-sided pedestals and reflect the reverence and solemnity of their responsibility to live above the stove and protect the home. The original lacquer has darkened naturally over time and from exposure to candle and incense smoke leaving a soft patina. The cavity on the male has its original covering while the one on the female is missing, exposing contents inside – a string tied around the script placed by a monk when it was consecrated. Kitchen Gods radiate warmth, especially when placed near the stove and make unique house warming or wedding gifts and add positive chi to any household.
This husband and wife Kitchen Gods are near mirror images with similar layered gold officials’ robes clasped hands covered in ritual cloth. They portray house gods whose future of families are in their hands. They are in excellent condition with fine patinas and both have been consecrated with the consecration script remaining in the wife’s cavity but not in the male’s cavity.
Each of this whimsical gold and red-burgundy lacquered pair of male fu lions sits erect on a high pedestal heads thrown back with flaring ears, bulging eyes, decorative stylized manes and a small bushy tail. Their spirituality is displayed by the pair silently emitting the blessed mantra “aum”: the open mouthed lion forming an “au,” and the other completing it with a closed mouth to form “mmm.” The workmanship on these pieces is masterful, although rustic and provincial, and they are rare with their Buddhist symbolism and because most pairs of fu lions pairs were lost during China’s modernization.
Given that this image of the infant Buddha is missing both arms it is remarkable that it is remains a powerful yet charming sculpture. Created by a skilled rural artisan from one dense piece of wood, this rare statue of the the young Buddha is a humble child in a relaxed and confident stance with a youthful torso, a round head, bent legs, wearing a modest waist-cloth and standing on a small plain round base.
Whimsical carvings of fu lions were the most popular mythical animals in Chinese homes, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, as free standing statues, designs on furniture, architectural elements and functional pieces in private homes or gardens or on a home altar to bring fu and the blessings to the home. This incredibly cute…
Early Chinese Mahayana images portrayed Lohans as followers of the Buddha, living in the human world in human forms .Through their spirituality and asceticism they achieved enlightenment and were no longer subject to rebirths but choose to not enter nirvana and remain as guardians to preserve Buddhist teachings, protect the Buddhist faith and lead others…
This very fine ladies vanity cabinet is covered with red lacquer, the color of blessings (fu), highlighted with gold and deeply carved and painted decorations of auspicious symbols to bring happiness, good fortune, long life and many sons to the elite couple who may have received it as a wedding gift by parents in hopes of them successfully carrying on the family tradition. This is a reflection of the Confucian belief having sons to carry on the family name is essential to real happiness.
This superb, colorful and rare carved Buddha is seated in vitarka-mudra, the teaching hand position. His delicately carved calm face has a benevolent and compassionate expression with a slight reassuring smile. The elegant body appears to float above deeply carved swirls reminiscent of clouds. Fine facial features, the graceful body and exquisitely carved and painted drapery make this a truly impressive and striking image. Given its size and masterful carving , it should hold a place and be revered commensurate with its spirituality and artistry.
The close association of the lotus and Guanyin (Sanskrit Padmapani meaning “born of the lotus,”) is depicted in this Guanyin image sitting on a flat, round open yellow lotus padmapitha pedestal held up by a stem flanked by red lotuses facing out in a folk art tradition. As one of the Great Chinese Goddesses (Irvin),…
The original 16 or18 arhats in Theravada Buddhism, later called Lohans in Mahayana Buddhism, were the original disciples of Gautama Buddha. Able to attain enlightenment and enter nirvana, instead they remained on earth to aid Buddhist devotees to reach nirvana. Buddhist temples are often lined with 18 lohan but there may be many more. Never…
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