Page 46 - Christie's Fine Chiense Works of Art November 2018 London

SEATED BODHISATTVA AVALOKITESHVARA

ROBERT D. MOWRY, ALAN J. DWORSKY CURATOR OF CHINESE ART EMERITUS,
HARVARD ART MUSEUMS, AND SENIOR CONSULTANT, CHRISTIE’S
毛瑞 哈佛大學藝術博物館亞洲部榮譽主任暨佳士得高級顧問

This exquisite sculpture represents the Bodhisattva As evinced by this compelling sculpture, bodhisattvas
Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Infnite Compassion, generally are depicted with a single head, two arms, and
as indicated by the presence in the headdress of a two legs, though they in fact may be shown with multiple
small seated image of the Buddha Amitabha 阿彌陀佛. heads and limbs, depending upon the individual bodhisattva
Avalokiteshvara is known formally in Chinese as Guanshiyin and the particular manifestation as described in the sutras
Pusa 觀世音普薩, but the name typically is contracted 佛經, or sacred texts. Richly attired, bodhisattvas, who may
simply to Guanyin 觀音. Considered a spiritual emanation be presented either standing or seated, are represented
of Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara is the only bodhisattva in with long hair often arranged in a tall coifure, or bun, atop
whose crown or headdress Amitabha appears, and thus the head and often with long strands of hair cascading
Amitabha’s presence here defnitively identifes this over the shoulders; as evinced by this sculpture, a crown
fgure as Avalokiteshvara, who is sometimes also called sometimes surrounds the topknot. Bodhisattvas wear
Padmapani 波頭摩巴尼 (“Holder of the Lotus”) or Lokesvara ornamental scarves, dhotis of rich silk brocade, and a
世自在 or 世自在王 (“Lord of the World”). wealth of jewelry that typically includes necklaces, armlets,
Elegantly outftted in the sumptuous trappings of an Indian bracelets, and anklets. Like Buddhas, bodhisattvas have
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prince of old, bodhisattvas 菩薩 are benevolent beings who distended earlobes; some, like this Avalokiteshvara wear
have attained enlightenment 菩提 but who have selfessly earrings, others do not. Though bodhisattvas generally
postponed entry into nirvana 涅槃 in order to assist other are shown barefoot, as in this example, both early Indian
sentient beings—有情 or 眾生—in gaining enlightenment. and early Chinese images of bodhisattvas may be shown
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Meaning “enlightened being”, a bodhisattva is an altruistic wearing sandals, often of plaited straw. 3
being who is dedicated to assisting other sentient beings In addition to the image of the Buddha Amitabha atop
in achieving release from the samsara cycle of birth and the head, which is Avalokiteshvara’s defnitive identifying
rebirth 輪迴 through the attainment of enlightenment; attribute, the bodhisattva typically holds such iconographic
bodhisattvas thus embody the Mahayana Buddhist 大乘佛 attributes as a lotus blossom, a vase, a ritual kundika vessel
教 ideal of delivering all living creatures from sufering 普渡 淨瓶 for holy water, or is portrayed in association with a
眾生. willow branch, a Buddhist symbol of healing, both physical
Bodhisattvas are presented in the guise of an early Indian and spiritual. In addition to those that comprise the base,
prince, a reference to Siddhartha Gautama’s worldly two lotus blossoms fank this bodhisattva, one at each
status as a crown prince before he became the Historical shoulder.
Buddha Shakyamuni 釋迦牟尼佛, implying that just as A translation of the Sanskrit name Avalokiteshvara,
Siddhartha 喬達摩悉達多 (traditionally, c. 563–c. 483 BC) Guanshiyin means “[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds
became a Buddha 佛, so will bodhisattvas eventually of the World”, a reference to Guanyin’s ability to hear both
become Buddhas, once all sentient beings have attained the cries of the aflicted and the prayers of supplicants. An
enlightenment. earthly manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha, Guanyin

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