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Taoist carvings were often placed on home altars along with ancestor images, house-gods and religious figures to bring propitious blessings (fu) to the household. Commissioning and honoring ancestral figures and officials were an important part of filial piety, a cornerstone of ancestor worship and a main tenet of Confucianism. Since Taoists were represented in many…
Fruit plates have been used as offerings in all Chinese religions to communicate with and venerate ancestors and deities in temples or home altars, bring reciprocal blessings to the bearers, strengthen family ties and demonstrate filial piety. Offerings of fruit, vegetables, sweets, tea and flowers and lighting candles and incense were ceremonially presented on home…
Decorative every day Shiwan ware pieces are recognized for their fine craftsmanship, vivid expression, and colorful apple-green and drip glazes. Shiwan potters mixed waste materials with local and inexpensive clay – one of the earliest artistic forms of recycling. Shiwan chopsticks holders are unique kitchen accessories, especially as wedding gifts.
Kyo Ware (Kyoto or Kiyomizu ware), the world-famous pottery made in Kyoto, Japan near the Kiyomizu Temple is an important and historic Buddhist monument and UNESCO Heritage Site. Designated as one of the Traditional Crafts of Japan by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, teaware, including teapots, teacups, pouring-vessels and items for the Japanese…
Ganesh is one of the most distinctive images in Hinduism. His elephant head symbolizes the gaining of knowledge through listening (large ears) and reflection (large head). His ample belly symbolizes the whole universe contained inside him and his ability to digest whatever experiences life brings and is a sign of well-being and of his role…
This magnificent carving represents Guanyin the Bodhisattva of Compassion, the most revered female Mahayana Buddhist devotional figure in Buddhist countries in Asia since the 4th century. As a Celestial Bodhisattva she has attained enlightenment but chose to postpone enter nirvana, the place of perfect peace and happiness, to help all beings regardless of status, gender…
Guanyin means “she who observes the sounds or cries of the world” and in Sanskrit she is named Padmapani or “born of the lotus.” She is one of the Three Great Chinese Goddesses (Irwin). During the Late Ming and Qing Dynasties in rural provincial regions and especially Southern China, Guanyin became a syncretic cult figure…
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the cult of Songzi (“Child Giving”) Guanyin, the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, became one of the most popular religious movements especially among Popular Religion and Taoist female and male devotees. It reached all Chinese regions and social strata and included the upper classes, court figures and the literati as…
Tudi Gong is one of the Chinese Earth-Gods referred to by many names including the Land God or Village God and often fondly referred to as “Grandpa.” He is a syncretic deity defined by the blend of Taoism, Buddhism, Popular Religion and Confucian traditions, and as a tutelary deity is responsible for administrating and protecting…
Chinese stone weights have been used for millennia as measurement that were standardized with each dynasty. There were also local applications as a non-standardized weight, securing a picnic cloth, keeping a scholar’s calligraphy paper immobile and as a garden accessory. These antique Chinese stone carvings were often auspicious shapes like animals, fruit, and vegetation. During…
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, and calligraphyand fired in kilns. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color…
Most antique Chinese outdoor garden stools were made in a drum or barrel shape using common ceramic designs like decorative fretwork, low relief decoration, simple pierced schemes, a variety of underglaze painted images, calligraphy and more. The upper border of the body of this beautiful stoneware garden stool is covered with four color bands that…
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