Guanyin Analysis

1671 Words4 Pages

Guanyin (Bodhisattva) (See Fig. 1 in Appendix) is an artefact, with Object Number of 2400, in the Honolulu Museum of Art. The medium, or material, of this sculpture of Guanyin is painted wood, and traces of pigment can still be seen on the sculpture. Its height is approximately 67 inches, or 170.2 centimeters. The origin of this sculpture is China, Northern Song (960-1126) or Tangut Xia (1038-1227). According to the museum, this sculptural art piece was purchased, or acquired, in 1927 from a renowned collection of Matsukata Kojiro, who passed away in 1950. The Guanyin sculpture depicts a male, interpretable by his male chest, seating in a royal-ease pose. He has a crown, which has a person in the meditative position carved on it. That person could be Buddha. Underneath the crown, the hair looks as though it is nicely braided along the edges of the crown. The eyes are partially closed. There are two pieces of objects, perhaps used to depict jewelry, attached to …show more content…

Faith in immediate salvation is presented, by Guanyin, to everyone undergoing or feeling pain. In China, something about the spiritual productiveness of the Lotus made known clearly in that writing by the Buddha was trialed and proven right. Every famous or known tale of Guanyin releasing prisoners and victims can be based upon Buddha’s one promise, which states, “Even if there is a man, whether guilty or guiltless, whose body is fettered with stocks, pillory, or chains, if he calls upon the name of the Bodhisattva He Who Observes the Sounds of the World, they shall all be severed and broken, and he shall straightway gain deliverance” (Benn). An example of Guanyin’s salvation is how he saved Liu Sahe. Before fifth century started, the story of Liu’s early life got so famous that it became a legend (Zürcher). Liu’s sinful life resulted in his descending into Hell (Zürcher). However, Guanyin eventually saved, converted, and resurrected Liu

Open Document