The Bodhisattva Guanyin, one of the most beloved deities in the Buddhist tradition, is the embodiment of compassion and loving-kindness who hears the cries of all beings. She has a central place in Buddhist homes of China and Japan where her name is Kannon. In Guanyin Images her face is always gentle, calm and sweet, reflecting infinite wisdom, serenity, love and compassion and has the capacity to calm those who are angry or in despair, comfort those who are sorrowful, and brings forth feelings of love, devotion and contentment. Her almond eyes are shown half-closed which indicates her perfect harmony of outer and inner life: half of her vision focuses on the outer world, while the other half is focuses internally for self-reflection. She is often shown in lalitsana, the position of royal ease symbolizing that as a regal personage, she presides over the material world and its possessions as well as the spiritual world. She often hold a scroll which may represent the dharma which she constantly reads or the Lotus Sutra that focuses on Guanyin as protector of the world in the time between the departure of Buddha Shakyamuni and the appearance of the future Buddha, Maitreya. Buddhist statues of enlightened beings are placed in temples, monasteries or home shrines as a reminder of the spiritual potential inherent within all of us.In the Ming and Qing Dynasties she became a popular Taoist and Popular/Folk Religion cult figure where local artisans created a new genre dressed in humble robes and simple features blending spiritual and folk traditions. Of her 33 manifestations, the most common at that time were Nanhai Guanyin, Songzi Guanyin and White Robed Guanyin. Lee Irvin includes her as one of the Chinese Great Goddesses along with Mazu and the Queen of the West, all strong female deities who help those in distress no matter what their status.
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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),…
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
This small antique carving is Nanhai Guanyin (Guanyin of the Southern Seas) who became a syncretic cult figure during the late Ming and Qing dynasties in rural provincial regions, especially Southern China. She is worshiped in Mahayana Pure Land Buddhism, Taoism and Popular Religion. The local artisan took liberties in the iconography, portrayal and attributes…
As one of the most popular Mahayana Pure Land images, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, this antique Chinese wood carving of Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas is seated on a symbolic craggy rock outcrop below an arch of draped moss (some of which is missing ) at the entrance to the Tidal…
This Nanhai Guanyin sits in her cave home on the island of Putuo represented by pierced openwork, craggy surfaces and open area at the cave top. Guanyin’s image almost fills the cave’s opening seated in dhyana (meditation), thumbs forming a triangle symbolizing the triratna, the Three Gems of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings)…
Nanhai-Guanyin seated in meditation (dhyana mudra) in her Tidal Cave on Putuo is one of the most popular Mahayana Pure Land Guanyin images, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and strongly reflects the Chinese syncretic blending of religious beliefs. Provincial craftsmen portrayed her in to reflect local beliefs, lifestyles and customs that resonated with…
This charming rare White Robed Guanyin sits on a Hǒu, the mythical guardian beast that symbolizes righteousness and morality and the mandate to usher in peace and prosperity. This Hǒu is a gentle Buddhist creature curled around Guanyin’s side as she in lalitsana clasping a rosary. This fine and rare provincial folk version of Guanyin is a small yet powerful carving, mounted on a frosted Acrylic base.
This wonderfully carved Nanhai Guanyin statue is notable for its highly ornate and beautiful diadem centered by an elaborately framed image of Buddha Amitabha seated in meditation. Her vibrant aura radiates spirituality and opulence, serenity and strength, as well as compassion and grace, making this statue a truly masterful piece of art.
This delicate small Mahayana Buddhist carving of seated White Robed Guanyin in meditation sits in meditation on a radiating lotus throne symbolizing her enlightenment, rebirth and purity. As a Popular Religion figure, she is humble, modest, relatable, accessible, yet a beautiful matronly figure. This beautiful figurine was placed on a home altar with other spiritual statues and house gods. Mounted on a frosted acrylic base.
This beautiful Guanyin is carved in the rural provincial tradition: a modest, compassionate and humble deity with a simple “crown” of lotus leaves and an unadorned robe with flowing sleeves extended to her plain pedestal lined with simple leaves. Her face is extremely empathetic with a slight smile as she tenderly grasping her child who resembles the infant Buddha. Given its size and elegance it was probably on a home altar of a well to do couple desirous of having a (male) baby.
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…
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…
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