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 5-lobed crown of this rare Nanhai Guanyin contains the 5 Dhyani Tantric Buddhas of Wisdom. Carvings like this that were consecrated for placement on home altars were often covered in gilt as both a display of personal devotion and the wealth of the donor.
The most distinguishing feature of this finely carved Nanhai Guanyin is her elaborate scalloped crown centered by the Amitabha Buddha of Infinite light. In Pure Land Buddhism crowns are believed to bestow a divine and solemn quality to Guanyin images. This serene yet elegant carving is perfect to enhance any personal meditative space.
As a protector of the sea Guanyin sits above a fish – represented as an emerging head and tail which symbolizes her power to help sentient beings safely sail through the sea of suffering which divides the mortal world and the Western Paradise to which Pure Land Buddhism devotees are brought upon their death. In this rare 18th century carving, the lotus on the base represents purity and the stem symbolizes Buddhist teachings which give rise to purity of mind.
This extraordinary rare and delicately rendered rural carving is a female bodhisattva possibly Guanyin seated on a lotus throne atop an ox. Beautifully highlighted in vibrant gold and adorned with intricate designs on the lotus petals and ox’s saddle coverings, this statue shows how the concept of a bodhisattva was adapted to the deification of “draft animals” (beasts of burden) who were integral to rural daily and agricultural activities in Chinese Popular Religion, Buddhism and Taoism beliefs.
This delicately carved home altar Guanyin is gender neutral in meditation on a lotus throne. Her humble demeanor, modest robes and absence of stylized decorative details exemplify the best of provincial Ming and Qing carvings. She is a tranquil figure with simple, soft, and beautifully rendered facial wearing a five-lobed crown symbolically representing the five Dyhani Buddhas and reflecting Vajrayana Tantric influence.
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.
This Nanhai Guanyin (Guanyin of the South Sea) sits in her cave on Putuo island in the South China Sea with most of her traditional features. She is portrayed as White Hooded or Clad Guanyin with her hair in a bun covered with a short hood seated in royal ease (lalitsana) with her right hand…
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.
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…
This lovely vintage 20th century Thai bronze statue is the White Clad Guanyin seated in meditation on a multi-tiered throne holding her vial of precious dew. Her open hood is centered by a mandorla surrounding an image of Buddha Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. This one of a kind piece is a vision of compassionate serenity with her half closed eyes and benevolent smile.
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