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| Guanyin Seated in Royal Ease | ||
| 作者 | |
|---|---|
| 出版者 | Asian Art Department, Denver Art Museum |
| 資料類型 | 網路資料=Internet Resrouce |
| 使用語言 | 英文=English |
| 附註項 | Sculpture; Visual Material：Scanned image from transparency; Copyright restrictions apply to the use of this image. For information or to obtain a photographic reproduction of this image, contact the Department of Photography, Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, USA |
| 關鍵詞 | Buddhism in China, 1000-1199; Chinese Buddhism; Buddhist Deity, Avalokitesvara; Buddhist Sculpture in 11th -- 12th Century China; Kuan-yin |
| 摘要 | This painted，wood carved，Buddhist image of Guanyin，from the Sung dynasty，leans back on his left arm in a relaxed posture. Guanyin takes many forms to help people; from the Indian form，Avalokiteshvara, (Avalokitesvara) to elaborate forms for the mystic cults of the Bodhisattva of Compassion(s). Within a temple filled with the smell of incense，an image of Guanyin leans back on his left arm. The image，like the one seen here，has a specific body language. From the gracefully bowed head to the open arms and legs, Guanyin invites worshippers to prayer. Originally，this Guanyin had gilded and luxuriant robes and a jewel in the center of his forehead. A wide variety of people，from pregnant women to peasant fishermen，pray to Guanyin，whose name literally means He Who Hearkens to the Cries of the World. They come to Guanyin with offerings of food and wine，and with please and prayers-a mother who wants her baby to grow up strong，a peasant who fears his family will starve if he catches no fish. They believe that Guanyin，with boundless compassion，will answer their cries. When devout Buddhists enter the temple，they see a sculpture of an elegant man. We can see in Guanyin's eyes the meditative quality that marks him as divine-and from the relaxed posture he sits in，worshippers feel invited to kneel and pray. They know just by looking at Guanyin's image that he is filled with understanding and compassion，not aloof and unconcerned with human troubles. Some believers will swear that Guanyin has appeared to them in visions, offering advice on living an enlightened life or rescuing them from dangers. With his relaxed posture and delicate length of his arms and fingers, his head gently inclined to those praying at the foot of his altar，Guanyin promises to understand each prayer. Millennia ago，Guanyin reached the highest Buddhist ideal：through enlightened understanding，he escaped the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. But Guanyin saw that countless others in the world needed guidance to reach Enlightenment. Rather than let them find their own way (which could take lifetimes)，Guanyin returned to the world to help others. This act of selfless compassion appears in Guanyin's face-its gentleness reflects a deep generosity toward people in a world filled with hardship. When people approach Guanyin they see a promise reflected in his elegant body-a fleshiness showing aristocratic power，a roundness showing health and strength-which helps them to believe their prayers will be answered. Guanyin took many forms in helping people. In fact，Guanyin has a choice of 33 forms in which to appear. From the Indian form，Avalokiteshvara, to more elaborate forms such as the Seated Guanyin. Guanyin took even stranger forms as worshippers turned towards mystic cults wholly devoted to the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Sometimes Guanyin was portrayed as female，sometimes with 11 heads, and in esoteric Buddhism，with 1000 arms and 1000 eyes. Curatorial notes by Denver Art Museum. |
| 點閱次數 | 150 |
| 建檔日期 | 2000.09.14 |
| 更新日期 | 2011.07.12 |
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