Mahayana

Mahayana meaning ”Great Vehicle,” is the largest school of Buddhist thought in the world, practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea Taiwan, Tibet and Mongolia. It was created as a result of the great schism from Theravada Buddhism after the Second Buddhist council in 383 B. C.E. The three main aspects of Mahayana Buddhism are the importance of the sutras, meditation and the bodhisattvas along with the communities they serve. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have chosen to remain in the human realm and assist other sentient beings in achieving enlightenment rather than entering nirvana. Bodhisattvahoodis the goal of the Mahayana which requires a resolve to win full enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Mahayana acknowledges human weaknesses and offers help in salvation through the use of the Bodhisattvas. It is a very inclusive form of Buddhism, absorbing beliefs of indigenous religions and accepting different gods and spirits into its massive pantheon and was very influenced by Taoist and Popular Religion ideologies.

Showing 25–34 of 34 results

  • Antique Small Guanyin on a Radiating Lotus, China (16534MSK) $595

    $595.00
    H: 8.675″  Dia: 4.5″ | Free SHIPPING!

    This delicate small carving of seated White-Robed-Guanyin in meditation is carved in the round with fine details on all sides. Her face with downcast eyes is calm and serene, and she sits on a two-tiered radiating lotus-throne with her elegantly carved hooded robe flowing to the top of the base in lyrically curving patterns. Small, important and beautiful, this image was placed on a home altar with other Buddhist statues and house gods. It is mounted on a frosted acrylic base.

  • Antique Songzi Guanyin, Bestower of Children, China (16311XOKE) $2250

    $2,250.00
    H: 14.5”  W: 8.25”  D: 5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This beautiful Guanyin is carved in the rural provincial tradition: a modest, compassionate and humble deity with a simple “crown” of lotus leaves holding and 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.

     

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  • Antique White Robed Guanyin on a Hǒu, China(16963BKE) $725

    $725.00
    H: 15.125”  W: 6”  D: 5” | FREE SHIPPING

    This charming 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. Although generally beast, 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.

     

  • Antique Wood and Lacquer Hooded Monk (Lohan), China (16098BSK) $595

    $675.00
    H: 13.25”  W: 7.5”  D: 6.25” | FREE SHIPPING

    This finely carved Lohan carved to be viewed on all sides sits in meditation his serene expression of inward concentration enhanced with his downcast eyes. He wears a hooded robe with a traditional shoulder ring and a cowl at the neck and wide sleeves that drapes to the base.  His highly decorated robes with gilt highlights are unusual, as Lohans generally wear unadorned monastic robes. This image is more youthful rather than a traditional  elderly monk.

     

  • Antique Wood and Lacquer Monk (Lohan), China (16241BHK) $785

    $785.00
    H: 14.25”  W: 7.125”  D: 4.875” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This finely carved seated Lohan from Fukien Province has a characteristic serene expression of inward concentration and is seated on a backless plinth, hands in meditation and legs in padmasana. His oversized head and pendulous ears symbolize his wisdom as an enlightened being, and his angular face with deeply set heavily lidded eyes, protruding cheekbones, pursed lips, and a strong chin indicate his strength as a Lohan. An elaborate robe with wide sleeves is draped over his shoulders, arms, and legs and his sash is pulled through a wide shoulder ring indicating his status as a Lohan.

     

  • Antique Wood Nanhai Guanyin of the South Sea, China (19508BME) $595

    $595.00
    H: 9.75″  W: 5″  D: 4.5″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    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.

  • Nanhai Guanyin of the South Sea on a Lotus with Emerging Fish, China (16376TSK) $675

    $675.00
    H: 10 ”    W: 5.5 ” ”    D:  4.5″    | FREE SHIPPING!

    This charming 18th century provincial Guanyin of the South Sea sits in her cave at Putuo in meditation on a lotus smiling joyously.   As a protector of the sea, she is seated on an open lotus above fish with his head and tail emerging  from the water. The lotus blossom represents purity and the stem symbolizes Buddhist teachings which give rise to purity of mind.

  • Rare Antique Guanyin Wearing Crown with Five Dyhani Buddhas, China (16557BAK) $695

    $695.00
    Ht: 9.5″  W: 4.5″  D: 3.75″ FREE SHIPPING!

    This delicately carved home altar figure is Guanyin represented as gender neutral in meditation on a lotus throne.  Her humble demeanor, modest robes and absence of stylized decorative details indicate it was carved by a provincial artisan, and its simple elegance exemplifies the best of provincial Ming and Qing carvings. She is a tranquil figure with simple, soft, and beautifully rendered facial details with almond shaped eyes cast down in serene composure wearing a five-lobed crown symbolically representing the five Dyhani Buddhas and reflecting Vajrayana Tantric influence.

  • SOLD Antique Carved Guanyin on Lotus Pedestal, China (16206B-WACK)

    $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 Nanhai Guanyin of the Southern Seas with Vial and Parrot, China (16059XCKE) $1195

    $1,195.00
    H: 17.25”  W: 9”  D: 5” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This remarkable spiritual work combines characteristics of provincially rendered carvings with imperially sanctioned images of Nanhai Guanyin. She sits in meditation on a backless throne on a stylized rocky outcrop flanked by twisting vertical structures holding her vial and white parrot. Her half-closed eyes glance down serenely under painted arched eyebrows. She wears an arched crown over hair looped over her ears and down her shoulders and flowing gold robes bordered in red in contrast to the flesh tones of the face, chest, and hands. Much of the pigmentation and gilt on this artfully rendered image remains. Surviving depictions of her with the vial and the filial parrot in good condition are relatively rare.

     

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