syncretic

Syncretism, the creation of new ideas and traditions by fusing elements from multiple and distinct sources, generally applies to religion, cultures and schools of thought. By their nature, Asian religious traditions and philosophies particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and other minor religions are syncretic (blended) as they are inherently integrative and inclusive absorbing tenets of other religions. In China this concept is exemplified at the highest level with the four traditions of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Popular Religion blending so harmoniously and seamlessly that many scholars view them as components of one dynamic religious system with each one providing a significant and complementary role. As Edmond Eh states, Daoism reflects the Dao (道), “natural creative power,” Confucianism reflects de (德), “virtue” or “power” and Buddhism reflects wu (悟), “awakening” or “realization.” The three together along with folk beliefs are absorbed in Popular Religion. This syncretic blending is exemplified in the placement of images of all traditions on home shrines, shared celebrations and festivals and the use of Buddhist monks and Taoist priests simultaneously for rituals and ceremonies. Guanyin is an excellent example of a syncretic deity.

Sources:

Edmond Eh, “Chinese Religious Syncretism in Macau”, Orientis Aura: Macau Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2:63-80 (2017)

Showing 1–12 of 47 results

  • Antique Carved Mazu, Protector of the Sea, China (19415PRO) $275

    $275.00
    H: 5.5”  W: 3.375  D: 3” | FREE SHIPPING

    This antique figurine is a matronly version of Mazu, Empress of Heaven in a horseshoe chair with gold earrings, hat topped with a phoenix and dressed in robes with a scalloped cloud collar. She is said to have lived in the 10th century only 28 years with a pure spirit and compassion for those in need throughout the world. With supernatural powers she performed miracles, subdued evil spirits and protected those at sea. After her death, she became a deity and is still widely prayed to as a Chinese deity.

  • Antique Earth God Tudi Gong, China (16332BOK) $775

    $775.00
    H: 12.125”  W: 6.125”  D: 4.125” | FREE SHIPPING

    This vibrant and finely carved wood statue is the old good-natured Earth God Tudi Gong once found in most rural communities throughout China. He is a kind and benevolent god as seen by his good natured features, believed to live in and help residents of small villages, especially for issues relating to agriculture or wealth.   As an administrator he sits on a horseshoe chair wearing officials clothes and carries a tael, a gold bar that symbolizes a wish for wealth. With his sweet and unpretentious demeanor, he looks like someone you just like to hang out with. Once in every village and most homes, these charming images have, like all Taoist deity images, become scarce.

     

     

  • Antique Elegant Queen Mother of the West, China (16096JASK) $1550

    $1,550.00
    H: 17.25”  W:  8”  D” 6” | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CALL 213-568-3030

    This extremely fine Queen Mother of the West wears her ornate headdress centered by her iconic phoenix representing the sun and her authority. She is the patron deity of women, a divine teacher and is closely associated with the cultivation of virtue and immortality. On her holy birthday devotees, especially women, gather in temples for celebration rituals.

     

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  • Antique Folk Carving of Guanyin, Amitabha in Crown (16837HEM) $1595

    $1,595.00
    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 folk art who rejected imperial constructs and replaced them with provincial traditions that combined Buddhist, Taoist and Popular Religion traditions. Humble, charming and approachable portrayals of Guanyin in modest attire like this were placed in most homes and temples in areas outside imperial influence.

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  • Antique Guanyin a Holding Scroll, China (16420LKE) $1550

    $1,550.00
    H: 15.25″  W: 7.5″  D: 6.5″ |SHIPPING INFORMATION REQUIRED. CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    Masterfully carved, this Guanyin has gentle curves thrusting her weight in opposing directions in a lyrical posture in lalitsana. Her refined  right hand with gentle elongated fingers rests on her right knee and her left extends across her body to hold a scroll, symbolizing  the Lotus Sutra, one of the Buddhist scriptures where her deeds and powers are enumerated or the Dharma which she constantly reads. Portrayed as a mature compassionate woman in serene repose, her delicate face has half-closed almond eyes, pursed lips, and full cheeks. Her hair is atop her head in a chignon and she wears a loose robe open at the chest and tied at the waist. The deeply carved folds of the robe and the patterns on the rocky outcrop on which she sits exemplify the artisan’s superior craftsmanship.

     

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  • Antique Guanyin Held Up by Demons, China (16208VRKE) $5800

    $5,800.00
    H: 45″ W: 17.75″  D: 11.5″ | FOR SHIPPING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT 213-568-3030

    This outstanding Guanyin wood carving is an extremely rare image and displays a wonderful earthy blend of Mahayana and Tantric (Tibetan) Buddhism and spiritual and folk traditions that resonated with provincial populations. She sits on a lotus above a hexagonal throne right raised in abhaya mudra, lobed crown is centered with the Amitabha Buddha inside an aureole. The four agonized creatures struggling to hold the calm Guanyin on their shoulders is a unique Tantric visual representation of the triumph of Buddhism over ignorance. Probably placed in a community shrine or Guanyin temple, the rear is unpainted as it was displayed high against a wall and foreshortened to be viewed from below. With its admonitions about greed, aversion and ignorance it is a great metaphor for our times. 

     

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  • Antique Guanyin on a Mythical Hǒu, China (16370BCK) $875

    $875.00
    H: 9.5”  W: 2.25”  D: 6.5” | FREE SHIPPING!

    This remarkable and enchanting figurine is Guanyin on her mount, the Hǒu. Although the Hǒu is often a compilation of 10 animals, here it resembles a Buddhist lion with its open roaring mouth displaying its fangs, a beard, a bushy tail, deer horns and fish scales covering its body. The round orb in its mouth representing a pearl can be rubbed for good luck. She is modestly dressed, hair is in a plain bun with a simple crown, and devoid of jewels and sits on a delicately carved saddle with fringe edges, her left hand holding her belt and her right cradling a ruyi scepter. It is one of our most unique and favorite Buddhist statues,

  • 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 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 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 Kitchen God and His Wife (16850D-BME) $695

    $695.00
    H: 7.25″  W: 3″  D: 1.625″ | FREE SHIPPING!

    This pair of the Kitchen God and his wife are mirror-images on backless chairs with multi-sided pedestals wearing simplified officials robes. Both are finely carved, clasp hands at their chests covered in ritual cloth to symbolize holding a hu tablet, and reflect reverence and solemnity for deities who hold the future of multiple generations in their hands. Their bright colors have faded naturally into a smooth warm patina which adds comfort and positive feng sui to any kitchen decor.

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