Bodhisattva, attendant figure from a larger Buddha shrine
Chinese
Description
Kuan Yin, the Lotus Bearer, holds a lotus bud in his right hand. The lotus bud, because it emerges from muddy water, signifies Buddha's purity. In his left hand, he holds a "kalasa", or flask, which holds an elixir of immortality called "amrita", representing long life. Called Avalokitesvara in the Indian traditon, Kuan Yin is The Lord Looking Down with Compassion.
Subject Matter:
A bodhisattva (a "wisdom being" in Mahayana Buddhism), orginally part of a larger altarpiece.
Usage Rights:
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