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Ancestor worship has been practiced throughout China using carved wood figures of deities, monks, priests and ancestor figures on home altars. In recent years there has been a resurgence of ancestor worship, especially in local Chinese communities practices by Buddhists, Taoists, and Popular Religion followers. Carvings of Taoist priests called daoshi often hold Taoist symbols…
The Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) is the most significant of the female Taoist deities and is viewed as having magical powers to controls life, death, creation and destruction and determines the lifespan of every living being. She lives with her husband the Jade Emperor in Kunlun Mountain where she attends her famous garden…
This intricately hand carved gold and silver platter with indentations on both sides was used to make confections called sweetmeats eaten at festivals, holidays, and other key celebrations. The round molds symbolize the moon and cohesion of the family. The 5-petal plum blossoms attached to vines symbolize purity and endurance, as well as the coming of spring, renewal, and longevity. The multiple seeds are a wish for fertility and sons, and thus this mold may have been a holiday and/or marriage gift to a young couple.
This striking, beautiful and sensitive carving is White Hooded (also White Clad or White Robed) one of the most frequent portrayed of her 33 manifestations. Introduced in 10th century Song Dynasty this manifestation portrays her as a humble and modest deity reflecting the features of an ordinary Chinese female, her face cast down in serenity…
18 original Lohans were the major disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha whom he, at his death bed, entrusted to protect and promulgate Buddhist teachings. Over centuries, their numbers increased to over 500 enlightened beings recognized for their courage and supernatural powers. In Mahayana Buddhism, Lohans represent the ideal toward which Buddhist devotees should strive as they…
This 19th-century miniature wood figure is a finely and whimsically carved portly seated merchant. He is depicted as a Laowai or “old foreigner” with a westernized face and hat and oversized hands placed on his knees. Seated on a platform base, he wears garments reflective of the Chinese culture at this time but wears a hat that is clearly not of Chinese origin. Other indications this charming figure is a foreigner include the roundness of his face, western facial features and oversized hands.
Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is one of the most beloved Mahayana Buddhist deities, the embodiment of loving-kindness who hears the cries of all beings, and who is one of the Great Chinese Goddesses – who are compassionate protectors who grant health, long life and safety to all devotees regardless of their social position. During…
The Kitchen God (Zao Shen) was and still is among the most important Chinese house gods. Traditionally every family had its own Kitchen God with or without his wife above the stove to reflect his and its central position in the family’s life. The Kitchen God is both a syncretic and a tutelary deity embraced…
This enchanting carving depicts Nanhai Guanyin in her Cave on Mount Putuo seated in lalitsana, below a symbolic arch of draped moss with bright pigmentation and considerable gilt. Nanhai Guanyin was massively popular during the Ming/Qing dynasties and provincial wood images were made home altars throughout China. She holds scrolls representing the dharma and sutras, behind her is a vial with the tears of her humanity and parrot, her constant companion. Small Nanhai images with all these symbols in this condition are very rare.
This charming oil lamp is decorated with auspicious symbols: Fish symbolize harmony, marital happiness and double fish mean “may there be abundance.” The oil cup is a lotus seed with a lotus leaf, symbols of a harmonious and fruitful marriage and also mean “the continuous birth of sons.”
This charming oil lamp is decorated with auspicious symbols: Fish symbolize harmony, marital happiness and double fish mean “may there be abundance.” The oil cup is a lotus seed with a lotus leaf, symbols of a harmonious and fruitful marriage and also mean “the continuous birth of sons,”
Zhenwu (aka Xuanwu, Wuandi and Zhenwudadi) is one of the most revered Chinese Taoist figures, venerated for his ability to heal as well as to protect his country and the emperor. There are various depictions of his attire, but here he wears a plain black robe with an official’s belt which he holds in his…
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