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The syncretic Queen Mother of the West is revered as one of the most significant of the female Taoist-deities with a large Buddhist and Popular Religion following. She was the first female deity represented in Chinese art. Her immeasurable powers include her complete control over life and creation as well as death and destruction. She…
The Keith Stevens’ article “An Unusual and Extraordinary Ancestral Image” describes a similar figure of a huntsman with a weapon, a flintlock gun, which he stated was the only ancestral image in his vast collection which “depicts the calling of the deceased.” (Stevens, Journal of Hong Kong) His piece was from Hunan, South Central China,…
Lohans are the only enlightened Buddhist beings that were allowed to be portrayed realistically rather than as idealized representations. This beautifully crafted antique and very rare large image looks like a portrait of a real person with very individual, distinctive, and un-idealized features. His eyebrows curve above a wide triangular nose with well pronounced cheekbones,…
This exceptional carving is form of Nanhai Guanyin which means Guanyin of the Southern Seas, one her most portrayed of her 33 manifestations during the Ming and early Qing dynasties. Her pedestal with hanging foliage and base in the form of stones indicates she is seated on her rocky outcrop on Putuo island in the…
This Tibetan Repoussé image presents various symbols of the Enlightenment of the Shakyamuni-Buddha. He sits within a trefoil arch on a lotus base (padmapitha) under the bodhi tree in bhumisparsha mudra (earth witnessing or hand touching position) symbolizing the moment of his enlightenment legs bent in (padmasana). The detailed trefoil arch surrounding the Buddha’s head…
Most Hindus have images of one or more murtis (gods and goddesses) on their home altar to help them in their daily prayers (puja), focus their attention and help visualize them. A murti is treated with the utmost respect, care and reverence but devotees never worship the objects and instead use them used only to…
During the Qing Dynasty Chinese officials were so significant that families often sought to portray an ancestor as an official in carved and painted images. This image reflects many of the common characteristics of ancestor-figures discussed by Stuart and Rawaski who write that ancestors were portrayed these official as if they are deities or rulers …
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…
This fine and rare kneeling image is Shen Nong (Shennong (神農), “Divine Farmer” or “Divine Husbandman”), one of most revered cultural heroes in Chinese mythology. Born in the 28th century BCE, he is the Founder of Natural Medicine, the 2nd of the Three Emperors of the Celestial Ministry of Health. A syncretic deity in both…
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…
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