Statue
Object Number:
C443
Current Location:
China Gallery
Culture:
Chinese
Provenience:
China
Shaanxi
Period:
Tang Dynasty
Date Made:
706 AD
Early Date:
706
Late Date:
706
Section:
Asian
Materials:
Limestone
Technique:
Carved
Inscribed
Iconography:
Kuan Yin
Amida Buddha
Description:
Stone statue of Guan Yin. Grey limestone. Figure of heroic size standing on a lotus pedestal which is supported by a square stone block covered on three sides with inscriptions in which the date corresponding to Decemeber 2, 706 CE is given. The figure is small waisted with sunken chest; flowing scarves and jewelled chains; tall ushnisa in front of which is seated Amitabha Buddha; urna represented by small flat disc in relief; very long ear lobes with heavey earrings. Guanyin (Chinese) or Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit) is the bodhisattva of compassion. He is most easily identified by the seated Buddha in his headdress and typically holds a vase which contains an elixir for immortality. One side of the base bears an inscription carved by the monk Zhengdao. A similar statue resides in Yakushi-ji in Nara, Japan.
Credit Line:
Purchased from A. G. Worch
Other Number:
Current & Past Exhibitions:
Chinese Rotunda (1968)
Bibliography:
[Catalogue] Nara Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan. 2010. Imperial Envoys to Tang China: Early Japanese Encounters with Continental Culture.
[Article] Steinhardt, Nancy S. 2008. "The Chinese Rotunda". Arts of Asia. 38 (5): 83-95. : Page/Fig./Plate: Pg. 91, Fig. 25
[Book] Siren, Osvald. 1925. Chinese sculpture from the fifth to the fourteenth century; over 900 specimens in stone, bronze, lacquer and wood, principally from northern China. : Page/Fig./Plate: Plate 402
[Catalogue] The University Museum. 1917. Section of Oriental Art. : Page/Fig./Plate: No. 10, p. 179
[Article] Bishop, C. W. 1916. Notes on Chinese Statuary. The Museum Journal. Volume VII (No. 3): 152-177. : Page/Fig./Plate: 167, Figure 167
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