Possibly Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) in the guise of a Buddha

Object Details

• Description

  Standing bejewelled Buddhist figure with dragon standing a top the figure's bare feet. A prominent "wan" (swastika) symbol in relief adorns the figure's chest. The deity's body is strongly extremely elongated and the arms and hands are exceptionally long. The hair is worn in snail-shell locks that expose a smooth, bump-shaped usnisa peaking through the hair. A small urna in relief appears on the forehead.

  The right arm is flexed and a Buddhist jewel is held between the thumb and middle finger; a rosary looped over the wrist hangs down ending in a tassel that tickles the dragon's back. The left arm points straight down.

  A multi-stalked lotus issues forth from the dragon's month. The central stalk reaches to the level of the figure's stomach and supports a carving of a miniature Buddha holding a lotus. Two lotus stalks reach shoulder level; the one on the figure's left supports a closed book (sutra). One lotus stalk supports a seed pod carved so that each of the seeds independently rotates within the socket in which it fits. The figure's Buddhist garments bear incised floral and other patterns filled with ink to make the linear designs stand out. Traces of gold over most of the surface indicate the figure was once heavily gilded.

  Modern wood stand.

• Inscriptions

  Spurious inscription dated 1025; of 16 characters incised on base.

• Label

  In almost every regard, this ivory figure is perplexing and intriguing. Until recently it was dated to 1025, based on the inscription carved

  into the underside of the base. Yet, no figural ivory carvings have been documented from the Song dynasty (960-1279). A few similarly dated ivory Buddhist figures exist in other Western collections, but not many scholars accept the early dates. Were these inscriptions added legitimately, or by an unscrupulous modern dealer?

  The intricacy of the Freer carving and the exaggerated elongation

  of the body and hands suggest a date of the seventeenth or eighteenth century. The figure is similar to Dehua (blanc de chine) porcelain figures made during this period. Radiocarbon test results on the ivory do not tell much, since the carver used fossil mammoth ivory more than 32,000 years old.

  The iconography of this figure was not common until the late

  Ming dynasty (1368-1644). A raised cranial bump indicates that it is a Buddha; however, the clothing, jewelry, and prayer beads signify a bodhisattva, or enlightened being. This conflict is resolved in a belief that Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, can assume the form of a Buddha to help other beings. The dragon and miniature Buddha are attributes of Guanyin.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Enlightened Beings: Buddhism in Chinese Paintings (September 1, 2012 to February 24, 2013)

  Chinese Buddhist Sculpture in New Light (April 14, 2002 to September 8, 2003)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Buddhist Art (July 19, 1958 to April 26, 1960)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1600s, 1790s

• Name

  buddha

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Gilding, Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Lacquer, Avalokite?svara (Buddhist deity), Flowers, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Lotus, Bodhisattva, Dragon, Guanyin

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture