Guanyin (Avalokitesvara), unknown maker from China

Exhibition Label:
“The Sacred and the Secular: Buddhist Imagery in Religious and Popular Contexts,” Oct-2005, Hillary Pedersen
The languid pose of the figure, with one knee raised, the other dropping to the side, imparts a sense of ease to the deity, making it more human-like and accessible. Bodhisattvas are often considered more approachable than fully-enlightened Buddhas, so worshippers often call upon the help of bodhisattavas when making requests. This particular bodhisattva, Guanyin, is one of the most popular Buddhist deities in East Asia, and is the bodhisattva of compassion.

Small images like these would be used for personal devotion, rather than worship by a large group of people. The gilding on the wooden figure has worn off, exposing the red undercoating used to stablize the gold. A rectangular hole carved in the back of the figure may have held Buddhist scriptures, images, or relics. The tradition of inserting such items into a Buddhist sculpture is seen throughout Asia as a way to give the image more efficacy.