FIGURE OF GUANYIN is one of a group of at least four from an unknown northern Chinese temple. The figures were gifts from a man and his wife, Dang and Chong - the presentation officially witnessed by the priest Daoji (the dated recorded as autumn 1484.) The maker's name is inscribed as Liu Zhen. Guanyin is a Chinese religious icon usually representing a female Buddhist Bodhisattva of compassion - Bodhisattva are beings who have reached a supreme spiritual state but who remain on earth to inspire others to the reach the same condition.The group of figures now split up between various British museums was brought from China in the 1930's - the Guanyin was acquired by the 2nd Viscount Leverhulme in 1937 and presented to the Gallery by the 3rd Viscount Leverhulme in 1980.

[ BACK ] [ SECTION INDEX ] [ NEXT ]

REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES ON MERSEYSIDE, LADY LEVER ART GALLERY, PORT SUNLIGHT.
NO UNAUTHORISED COPYING OF THESE IMAGES IS PERMITTED.