Fragment of Guanyin of Eleven Heads

Object Details

• Description

  In relief, within a recess; lower part, from knees downward, missing, and minor injuries.

  Limestone; gray, with gray-brown patina.

• Label

  Esoteric (Vajrayana) Buddhism employs rituals and magic spells and many of the deities are depicted in a multiheaded and multiarmed guise. This form of Buddhism was popular in China during the Tang dynasty, when this image of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, was made under imperial patronage. Eleven heads represent the stages of enlightenment.

  The sensuous sculptural style reflects artistic exhange between China and India. This sculpture originally adorned the Seven Jewels Pagoda that was built in the Tang dynasty capital, Chang'an (modern day Xi'an). This sculpture is one of several similar images that adorned the Pagoda. Another related image from the Seven Jewels Pagoda is also in the Freer Gallery of Art (see F1909.98)

• Provenance

  To 1914

  Edgar Worch (1880-1972), New York to 1914 [1]

  From 1914 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Edgar Worch in 1914 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 521, pg. 149, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Promise of Paradise (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Promise of Paradise: Early Chinese Buddhist Sculpture (December 1, 2012 to January 3, 2016)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Buddhist Sculpture, 1944 (March 13, 1944 to November 14, 1944)

  Stone Sculpture, Gallery 17, 1923 (May 2, 1923 to November 17, 1955)

  Stone Sculpture, Buddhist Bronze, and Chinese Painting (May 2, 1923 to February 25, 1956)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Edgar Worch (1880-1972) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Qibaotai Pagoda, Guangzhai Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Freer Gallery 17: Promise of Paradise

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  700s

• Name

  Worch, Edgar, Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  Guangzhai Temple, China, Shaanxi Province, Qibaotai Pagoda, Xi'an

• Topic

  Vajrayana Buddhism, Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Mandorla, Chinese Art, Willow tree, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Avalokite?svara (Buddhist deity), Stone, Bodhisattva, Guanyin

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes