Great Chinese Goddesses

In his excellent article, Lee Irvin notes that female deities have always played a significant role in the Chinese religious pantheon. Three of Chinas great goddess – Xiwangmu (the Taoist Queen Mother of the West), the Buddhist bodhisattva Guanyin and Matsu (The Empress of Heaven) – all share the feminine principles of compassion, receptive nature and association with water and darkness, and all are imperially sanctioned divinities. Revered by all sectors of Chinese society from the endorsed government and religious sectors to the masses who embrace Popular Folk Religion and Taoism as well as Buddhism, their roles expanded from divine personages to also mortals with human expressions, emotions and needs. Each epitomize the feminine role of compassionate protectors and grant health, long life and safety to all devotees regardless of their rank or status. In doing so, they are viewed as interconnected and collectively provide devotees the will and spiritual means to oppose controlling dominant male religious and political forces. All three have popular small local shrines scattered through rural areas as well as large temples and monasteries dedicated to them: the Queen mother in Taoist and Popular Religion places of worship and Guanyin and Matsu in Buddhist and Popular Religion sanctuaries. Guanyin and the Queen Mother are uniquely linked in their roles as guides to a serene death. Guanyin in Pure Land Mahayana belief leads deceased souls to their rebirth in the Western Paradise, which is similar to the Taoist realm into which the Queen Mother guides the deceased.

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

Showing 13–24 of 37 results

  • Antique Guanyin with Vial and Parrot, China (16246XLOK) $1450

    $1,450.00
    H: 15.5″  W: 6″  D: 5.25″ | for shipping information contact us at  213-568-3030

    In this elegant and vibrant carving Guanyin sits in meditation and feet in padmasana. Her beautiful, serene face is elegantly carved in contemplation with half-closed eyes and bud-shaped lips softly set in a welcoming and benign sweet smile. Her forehead is framed with soft curls and long hair drawn into chignon set behind her striated five-lobed crown and falling in knotted braids to her shoulders. Wearing elegant long flowing gilt and red robes, she sits on an open lotus with a vertical post at her sides; her sacred vial on her right and a parrot on the left. Antique carved i Guanyin statues with her symbols in this condition are quite wonderful and rare and impart a feeling of serenity to the environment around them.

     

     

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  • Antique Guanyin, Amitabha in Crown (16837HEM) $1495

    $1,495.00
    H: 33.5″  W: 33″  D: 10″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Statues like this Guanyin in the Mahayana Pure Land Buddhist tradition were especially popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties. This carving epitomizes the best of folk art spiritual traditions of provincial artisans who replaced imperial constructs with provincial depictions that combined Buddhist, Taoist and Popular Religion traditions. Humble, charming and approachable portrayals of Guanyin  like this were placed in homes and temples in provincial areas.

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  • Antique Guanyin, Dhyani Buddhas in Crown, China (16123BLEM) $4350

    $4,350.00
    H: 27.5″  W: 13.5″  D: 10.25″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This antique carving is a magnificent example of provincial Buddhist statues made by local artisans.This serene exquisitely carved Guanyin sits on a  detached pedestal base in meditation. Made to be seen in the round, she wears a traditional three part garment with delicate incised leaves and leaf motifs on the front, back, and sleeves.  The gentle, sweet face is soft and set in a peaceful and calming half smile. Her high pointed crown depicts the Five Tantric Dhyani Buddhas, which we have rarely seen in Guanyin provincial images. .

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  • Antique Heavenly Empress Mazu, China (5677JACK) $1450

    $1,450.00
    H: 21”  W: 11.5”  D: 8” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This vibrant image represents the “Heavenly Empress” Mazu wearing a red-tiered outer robe topped with a black scalloped collar bordered with gold and carved in graceful folds. Three ornamental flowers painted on her stomach might reflect the Popular Religion myth that when Mazu’s mother was pregnant, she prayed for a daughter as she already had six sons. In a dream Guanyin gave her a flower blossom to wear, and the next day Mazu was born.

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  • Antique Home Altar Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19013ZRK) $425

    $425.00
    H: 9”  W: 6.525”  D: 2.5 | FREE SHIPPING

    This home devotional image, finely carved in the front and back, represents Mazu, the most revered Taoist female deity in coastal areas in mainland China, Taiwan and Vietnam. She sits in a traditional Taoist deity pose, hands covered by a ritual cloth with a space to hold a hu tablet on a plain armless high back chair. She is a provincial matronly figure, eyes calmly cast down, in humble attire with characteristically small feet, a hanging red, and a modest hat with a flat phoenix.

  • Antique Home Altar Queen Mother of the West, China (16035TSK) $395

    $395.00
    H: 12.5”  W: 4.875”  D: 3.375” | FREE SHIPPING!

    Finely carved from one piece of dense hardwood, this Queen Mother of the West image sits in a traditional pose on a backless throne with a large iconic phoenix on her hat and wearing in a graceful robe with two fingers of her right-hand holding a long sleeve that covers her left hand – common in Taoist deity images. It was brightly painted as seen by her red garments under a lacquered cover that naturally darkened over time from  incense and candle offerings.  Her carved facial features with pursed lips depict a caring, authoritative matronly figure.

     

  • Antique Imperial Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (16348XSKE) $3250

    $3,250.00
    H: 31.5”  W: 16..5”  D: 10.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This colorful large image represents Matsu as the Empress of Heaven in elaborate robes covering her front and back with gilt appliqué, raised curvilinear designs, glass and mirror insets  and intense hues of red, blue, green and yellow to allows those at sea in need of her assistance to see her.  A gilt headdress with raised threads and a mirror and topped by a phoenix sits on her intricate hair strands.  Originally on a chair or throne and made to be seen in the round, it now has a wood slat to stabilize it.

     

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  • Antique Large Guanyin on Lotus Throne, China (16211RKE) $4400

    $4,400.00
    H: 31.75”  W: 11.25”  D: 6.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This extraordinary Guanyin originates from rural provincial less literate China.  Not made in a sophisticated “imperial” style, its great charm depends on straightforward forms in bright and decorative color combinations. She sits on a backless throne resting on a lotus pedestal held up by a stem flanked by lotuses facing out in a royal ease (lalitsana) and her right hand is a relaxed vitarka mudra. Her oversized crown contains a framed Amitabha Buddha. Using vibrant unusual multi-colored color combinations, an informal sitting position, simplified, almost geometric shapes for the head and facial features and bright modest robes, she  reflects a humble folk-art image very accessible to rural devotees. Its size indicates it was carved for a large home, clan or community temple.

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  • Antique Mazu, Empress of Heaven, China (6003A-BCK) $1050

    $1,050.00
    H: 15.375”  W: 8.625”  D: 7.5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This Mazu, the protector of sea farers, is portrayed as the imperially sanctioned “Empress of Heaven” seated on an elaborate horseshoe shaped dragon throne, hands clasped symbolically holding a hu tablet, adorned with elegant dragon robes, an official’s girdle, a flat-topped Empress headdress and small feet resting on a pair of gilt fu lions. Meant to be seen from all sides this beautiful carving is decorated on front and back.

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  • Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China (16057BAK) $1350

    $1,350.00
    H: 11”  W: 5.75”  D: 5.125” | FREE SHIPPING

    This very rare and fine 16th century home shrine image displays the benign and compassionate countenance of Songzi Guanyin the “Bestower of Children.”  She traditionally holds a male child in her lap facing out to her devotees to assure assistance to the hopeful parents to become pregnant, protect the mother’s pregnancy and the child after birth. She leans slightly forward, with delicate facial features with a sweet smile, wears a 5- lobed crown centered with a camellia flower a Chinese symbol of young sons and daughters. With round face and joyful half-closed and eyes, she looks lovingly at the child whose arm is draped over hers. The inscription on the back dates the pirce to 1521-1567

  • Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China (16555BCK) $425

    $425.00
    H: 11.75”  W: 5.25”  D: 4.75” | FREE SHIPPING!

    In this provincial carving for private devotion on a home altar, Nanhai Guanyin sits in tranquilly in anjali mudra at her cave home on Putuo on a lotus throne set on an open lotus framed by a backdrop arch of openwork with pierced cut outs. She wears a five-lobed crown and flowing robes symbolizing her regal status in contrast to her modest robes.  Few small Nanhai Guanyin figures have survived, and they are highly prized. In feng shui, Guanyin statues should be in the center of the home to bring blessings to the entire home.

     

  • Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas, China (19414BLK) $750

    $750.00
    H: 9.5” Dia: 4.25″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This charming extremely well-modeled carving depicts a White Robed Nanhai Guanyin in her Cave on Mount Putuo seated on an open lotus in lalitsana below an arch of draped moss . Nanhai Guanyin was massively popular in the Ming/Qing dynasties when provincial wood images were made for home altars throughout China. She holds a scroll representing Buddhist teachings accompanied by a vial with the tears of humanity and a parrot, her constant companion.  Small home shrine Nanhai images with all these symbols are rare.

     

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