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.

  • Sale! Antique Rare Queen Mother of the West Puppet Head, China (16800)

    Antique Rare Queen Mother of the West Puppet Head, China (16800)

    Original price was: $950.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    Ht: 17” W: 4.25” D: 4.5” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Very rare depiction of Queen Mother of the West puppet head wearing elaborate headdress with outstretched tortoise legs atop a phoenix, reflecting early shamanism rites of turtle shell divination. Mounted on acrylic base.

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  • Sale! Antique Rare White Robed Guanyin on a Hǒu, China (16936)

    Antique Rare White Robed Guanyin on a Hǒu, China (16936)

    Original price was: $725.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    H: 15.125”  W: 6”  D: 5”    |   FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.

    Rare provincial carving of Guanyin in lalitsana clasping a rosary on a mythical Hǒu that symbolizes righteousness, morality and ushers in peace and prosperity. Small yet powerful, consecrated and mounted on Acrylic base.

  • Sale! Antique Small Guanyin on a Radiating Lotus, China (16534)

    Antique Small Guanyin on a Radiating Lotus, China (16534)

    Original price was: $595.00.Current price is: $495.00.
    H: 8.675″  Dia: 4.5″   |   Free SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Delicate White Robed Guanyin in meditation on radiating lotus throne. Provincial humble, modest, relatable, yet beautiful matronly figure.

  • Sale! Antique Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16311XOKE

    Antique Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16311XOKE

    Original price was: $2,650.00.Current price is: $1,975.00.
    H: 14.5”  W: 8.25”  D: 5”  |  CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING.

    This beautiful provincial Songzi Guanyin is modest, compassionate and humble with lotus leaf crown, unadorned robe and pedestal with simple leaves. The “child giving Guanyin holding her baby resembling the infant Buddha was  probably on a home altar of wealthy couple desiring a (male) baby.

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  • Sale! Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16057BAK

    Antique Ming Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China #16057BAK

    Original price was: $1,350.00.Current price is: $1,100.00.
    H: 11”  W: 5.75”  D: 5.125” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.!

    This very rare and fine 16th century home shrine image displays the benign and compassionate countenance of Songzi Guanyin the “Bestower of Children.”  With round face and joyful half-closed and eyes, she looks lovingly at the child whose arm is draped over hers.and leans slightly forward,  wearing a 5- lobed crown centered with a camellia flower a Chinese symbol of young sons and daughters. The inscription on the back dates the piece to 1521-1567

  • Sale! Ming/Qing Carved Guanyin with a Child, China,  (5301)

    Ming/Qing Carved Guanyin with a Child, China, (5301)

    Original price was: $2,250.00.Current price is: $1,700.00.
    Ht: 26”  W: 10.25” D: 7.5″ |CALL 213-568-3030 OR EMAIL [email protected] FOR SHIPPING

    Rare provincial image of Guanyin tenderly holding a young child’s hand similar to  Songzi  “Child-Giving Guanyin”. Consecrated  with vibrant gilt and red surface in front and back.

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  • Sale! Nanhai Guanyin Atop a Fish, China (16376)

    Nanhai Guanyin Atop a Fish, China (16376)

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $575.00.
    H: 10″  W: 5.5″  D: 4.5″  |    FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    Rare provincial consecrated carving of Nanhai Guanyin on a lotus, representing purity of the mind, above a fish symbolizing her power to help beings sail through sea of suffering separating mortal world from the Western Paradise.

  • Sale! Rare Antique Guanyin with Crown with Five Dhyani Buddhas, #16557 China

    Rare Antique Guanyin with Crown with Five Dhyani Buddhas, #16557 China

    Original price was: $695.00.Current price is: $425.00.
    Ht: 9.5″  W: 4.5″  D: 3.75″      |        FREE SHIPPING WITHin Continental U.S.

    Rare provincial home altar consecrated gender neutral Guanyin is in meditation on lotus throne wearing five-lobed crown symbolically representing the 5 Dyhani Buddhas in the Vajrayana Tantric tradition.

  • Sale! SOLD  Antique Guanyin on  a Mythical Hǒu, China,

    SOLD Antique Guanyin on a Mythical Hǒu, China,

    Original price was: $895.00.Current price is: $625.00.
    H: 9.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 6.5” | FREE SHIPPING within Continental U.S.!

    This remarkable figurine is Guanyin on her mythical  mount, the Hǒu, guardian master of the universe and model for righteousness and morality who symbolizes bringing forth peace and prosperity.The round orb in its mouth representing a pearl can be rubbed for good luck.  It is one of our most unique and favorite Buddhist statues, mounted on a frosted Acrylic stand.

  • SOLD Antique Carved Guanyin on Lotus Pedestal, China

    SOLD Antique Carved Guanyin on Lotus Pedestal, China

    $1,375.00
    SOLD  H: 23.25″  W: 9.25″  D: 6.25″

    This Guanyin image was probably one of a pair of images along with the Taoist Queen Mother of the West (16206A-WACK) placed together on a community, local temple or home altar.  Created by the same local artisan, they are provincial rather than imperial style having a humble, unadorned and simple rendering, seated on backless thrones, hands covered by a ritual cloth, uncharacteristic of Guanyin but common for Taoist goddesses. Both wear layered robes and a high pointed crown – the Queen Mother’s centered by a phoenix and Guanyin’s by a flower surrounded by symbolic aureole of radiating light. Both have soft blissful smiles with eyes cast slightly downwards to engage their devotees. Initially covered in bright polychrome colors, there are traces of surviving red, yellow, green, brown and black.

  • SOLD Antique Queen Mother of the West on Raised Pedestal, China (16206A-WACK)

    SOLD Antique Queen Mother of the West on Raised Pedestal, China (16206A-WACK)

    $1,375.00
    SOLD  |  H: 23.25″  W: 9.25″  D: 6.5″

    This Queen Mother of the West, the highest ranking female Taoist deity was probably displayed as a pair along a statue of Guanyin, the most significant Buddhism female (Guanyin on a Lotus Pedestal (16206B) highlighting the importance and similarity of these revered female images  Like the Guanyin, the Queen Mother’s delicately carved face has half closed eyes, serene composure mouth with a hint of a smile, which is more Buddhist than Taoist. Her headdress, centered by her iconic phoenix, rests under a hood extending to her shoulders and back. She wears a high collared three-layered Taoist robe, her hands covered by a ritual cloth.

  • SOLD! Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the South Sea Holding a Scroll, China 16420LKE

    SOLD! Antique Nanhai Guanyin of the South Sea Holding a Scroll, China 16420LKE

    $1,550.00

    This outstanding delicately antique carving is Nanhai Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, seated on a rocky outcrop covered with a cloth, a reference to her home in a cave on the island of Putuo in the South China Sea. Other than the Buddha, she is the most revered deity in Mahayana Buddhism and one of…

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