Figure | kuan-yin

In Mahayana Buddhism, Guan yin is considered to be a bodhisattva of compassion and mercy. In popular belief, she is revered as one of the most famous female deities in the Southeast and East Asian region. The name stands for Guan-shi-yin and means "she who perceives all sounds of suffering in the world". She derives from the male Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who originated in India. Over the centuries, Avalokiteshvara increasingly fused with local traditions and was accepted as a female counterpart, Guan yin in the Buddhist pantheon of China. The statue is a testament to the masterful monochrome glazes of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The provincial Têhua manufactory was one of the most important porcelain workshops in China until the end of the Ming reign. It produced works for the domestic and, particularly, foreign markets (the Middle East and Europe). In the West, Tê-hua works from the 16th to 19th century became known as Blanc de Chine or Dehua porcelains. Its characteristic feature is a transparent glaze, which melds densely with the biscuit and the diverse tonal gradations of which range from cream to a pale pink. The image of a woman wrapped in white robes was often chosen as a motif for Blanc de Chine sculptures of Guan yin. Author: Hildegard Mayer, Translation: Timothy Connell