Page 68 - CHRISTIE'S Buddhist Art Japanese Collections 09/14/17

In sanskrit, Avalokiteshvara means ‘the lord who looks upon the world with
compassion’, and can be identifed by the small fgure of Amitabha Buddha
that centers the crown or headdress. Avalokiteshvara can also be identifed
by the willow branch, ‘holy water’ bottle, and sometimes a lotus that are
held in the hands. In China, Avalokiteshvara is referred to as Guanyin, the
Goddess of Compassion.
The swirling scarves and graceful stance of this bodhisattva are refective
of the ‘high Tang’ style of other gilt-bronze, stone and painted images of
8th century date. Another gilt-bronze fgure of a bodhisattva, identifed as
the Padmapani manifestation of Avalokiteshvara because of the lotus stem
held in the right hand, also holds a kamandalu in the pendent left hand,
and is illustrated by W. Zwalf, Buddhism: Art and Faith, British Museum,
1985, p. 203, no. 291. See, also, the similar fgure holding a willow branch
and a kamandalu in the collection of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco,
illustrated in Comprehensive Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Buddhist
Statues in Overseas Collections, vol. 5, Beijing, 2005, pl. 940.

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