GUANYIN

Question 1

The name of the object is Bodhisattva

Answer 1

Avalokiteshvara. Another name for this figure is the Guanyin, short for Guanshiyin.

Question 2

The posture of this Guanyin figure

Answer 2

one hand resting on a raised knee, and the opposite leg bent across in front of the body - is known as the Water-Moon form

Question 3

The Guanyin Figure is located in the center section of

Answer 3

The Art of China gallery

Question 4

The Guanyin figure is created in

Answer 4

Qing dynasty; 19 century

In China

Question 5

The sculpture are measured

Answer 5

17” H x 7.5” W x 4”D

Question 6

The medium of this sculpture is

Answer 6

Nephrite ( greenstone, true jade )

Question 7

Bodhisattvas are

Answer 7

Enlightened being who have put off entering paradise in order to help others attain enlightenment.

Question 8

The Bodhisattva Guanyin is

Answer 8

a Chinese comforting and mother goddess, although sometimes she is a he

Question 9

The Bodhisattva Guanyin is commonly know as

Answer 9

the Goddess of Mercy.

Question 10

And her aspect is

Answer 10

compassion

Question 11

The Bodhisattva Guanyin’s mixture of male and female characteristics

Answer 11

led her to become one of the most widely beloved Buddhist figures.

Question 12

Since its introduction after the 3rd century, Bodhisattva of Compassion, Guanyin, is

Answer 12

one of the most widely worshiped Buddhist deities in China

Question 13

She is known for her

Answer 13

kindness, and can be regarded as an icon of femininity in modern Buddhism.

Question 14

What makes this figure of Guanyin appear more feminine or masculine?

Answer 14

The figure of Guanyin dressed in loose-fitting robes falling into elegant folds and opening at the chest revealing a triple rolls beaded necklace, and a soft and slightly oval face with meditative expression.

Question 15

Do you see the roots of Guanyin’s manifestations the Chinese Goddess of Mercy in this sculpture?

Answer 15

As the deity of compassion, Guanyin sculpture is typically represented with precious jewelry, elegant garments, and graceful postures.

Question 16

What difference between this Guanyin sculpture and other Bodhisattvas figures do you observe ?

Answer 16

This statue of Guanyin depicts the bodhisattva seated on a bed of lotus, with legs folded as if mediating and her hands gathered in Dhyana Mudra. The face is finely sculpted with a serene expression, long undulating eyes, a flattened nose, and pursed lips. The earlobes are visible. The neck is surrounded with a wide, decorated necklace.

Question 17

The “Lotus Sutra” describes Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) as

Answer 17

a bodhisattva who can take any form. She can be a male, female, adult, child, elderly, human, non-human, in order to teach the Dharma.

Question 18

Guanyin was said to be able to appear in

Answer 18

33 different physical forms, 7 of these as women or young girls.

Question 19

This figure was regarded as a male in India,

Answer 19

and slowly transformed to have a female image in China.

Question 20

In ancient time, Chinese society was based on ideas of purity, so the Guanyin easily became an iconic female symbol. However,

Answer 20

she also contained strong masculine aspects, which were also important to the eastern Asian people.