Figure of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin of the Southern Seas)
Medium:Gessoed, painted, gilded sandstone
Geography: Reportedly from Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, China
Date: 15th century AD
Period: Ming Dynasty
Dimensions:113.7 x 72 x 55 cm
Object number: 921.31.25
Credit Line: The George Crofts Collection, Gift of Mr. D. A. Dunlap
Gallery Location:Matthews Family Court of Chinese Sculpture
DescriptionThe Bodhisattva Guanyin (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara), identified by a small image of Amitabha Buddha in his crown, is sitting in the posture of "royal ease", with one leg drawn up. The rocks carved over and behind him are home to nine animals, among which a goat, an elephant, a monkey, a snake, a dragon, a lion, and a deer with the mushroom of immortality. To the feet of the deity are two standing figures with hats, possibly donors, two small bodhisattvas, and a large dragon.
