Thousand-armed, eleven-headed Guanyin
16th century
Guanyin, or “one who hears the prayers of the world,” is the embodiment of compassion. He is the most popular of the many celestial bodhisattvas, or compassionate guides, of Buddhism. With multiple arms and heads, this work signifies Guanyin’s infinite powers and immeasurable reach. The teachings and ritual formulas of esoteric or tantric branches of Buddhism were secret; they held hidden meanings that could be unlocked only with initiation and a teacher’s guidance. Yet these traditions spread widely from India to Tibet, Mongolia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the East Asian countries of China, Korea, and Japan.
Bronze with gilt
44 15/16 × 32 × 19 1/2 in. (114.2 × 81.3 × 49.5cm)
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
33.821
Provenance: purchased 1931, John Wanamaker, New York, NY
