A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE LARGE WOOD FIGURE OF THE BODHISATTVA GUANYIN IN WATER MOON FORMJin dynastySeated in rajalitasana, with the right arm resting on his right raised knee and his left arm and hand resting on the ground and supporting the body, the bare torso dressed in a short cape with long ribbons falling over his arms, a narrow, scarf draped over the left shoulder, falling diagonally across his chest and tied on the left in a large limpid knot, the lower body covered with a full diaphanous wrap-around skirt falling in linear folds around his legs and ankles, tied around the waist with an elaborate bow, a bejeweled necklace with an ornate central pendant lies at this chest, bracelets at his wrists, his rounded face with a serene, meditative expression, with arched brows above downcast eyes inlaid with black glass, with high cheekbones, small, full pursed lips and rounded chin, the hair drawn up into a high curled chignon with tresses falling to each shoulder where they are bound, divided into three wavy strands falling over his shoulders and arms, traces of blue, red and green pigments, and traces of gilding.111cm (43 3/4in) high.Footnotes THE PROPERTY OF A DISTINGUISHED FRENCH FAMILY 法國顯赫家族藏品金 木雕水月觀音坐像Provenance:Ta-Kou-Tchai (Studio for Understanding Antiquity) of Paul Houo-Ming-Tse (Paul Hou Ming-Zhi, ca. 1880-1949), Beijing, before 1930Alphonse Bellier et Andre Portier, Collection Paul Houo-Ming-Tse de Pékin. Objets d'Art de la Chine de Époques Archaïques au XVIIIe Siècle., Vente aux Encheres publiques, Hôtel Drouot, 15, 16 et 17 Février 1932, lot 63Acquired in Paris by the grandfather of the present owners before 1935, and thence by descentPublished, Illustrated and ExhibitedPaul Huo-Ming-Tse, Preuves des Antiquités de Chine Pékin, 1930, p.297Alphonse Bellier et Andre Portier, Collection Paul Houo-Ming-Tse de Pékin. Objets d'Art de la Chine de Époques Archaïques au XVIIIe Siècle., Vente aux Enchères publiques, Hôtel Drouot, 15, 16 et 17 Février 1932, lot 63Gazette de L'Hôtel Drouot, Numéro 19, Mardi 16 Février 1932, cover pageCabinet Portier, 100 Ans 1909–2009, Paris, 2010, fig.100The result of Re.S. Artes Radiocarbon Dating test no. C 145020A (E1 and E2) (9 May 2023) is consistent with the dating of this lot.來源：霍明志（约1880-1949)，達古齋，北京，1930年以前入藏巴黎德魯奧拍卖會，1932年2月15-17日，霍明志藏品專場，編號63現任藏家祖父於1935年前於巴黎獲得，並由後人保存迄今出版：霍明志,《達古齋古證錄》，北京, 1930年, 頁297巴黎德魯奧，《霍明志藏品專場圖錄》，編號63《巴黎德魯奧公報》封面，第19期，1932年2月16日Cabinet Portier,《百年鑒藏1909-2009》，巴黎，2010年，圖100法國Re.S.Artes實驗室碳-14測定結果，測試編號 C 145020A (樣本E1和E2，2023年5月9日）顯示本拍品年份與斷代相符 Eyes of CompassionThis impressive sculpture seated in a contemplative pose is a religious sculpture that was made in the 11th/12th century under the Jin dynasty (1115-1234). It represents the Buddhist Bodhisattva Guanyin whose Sanskrit name is Avalokiteshvara, 'the Lord who looks down'. Known as Guanshiyin in Chinese, the Bodhisattva Guanyin is the one who is attuned to the sounds of the worlds and hears all the world's suffering. His inward-turning gaze expresses The Bodhisattva's powers as a comforter of humans suffering and hardship while his naturalistic image expresses proximity and approachability. This Bodhisattva is known as the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion, he who has attained enlightenment and the utter state of bliss but who has deferred entering Nirvana to ease the suffering of all humans. As such he is one of the most important deities in Mahayana Buddhism.This magnificent figure of the Bodhisattva Guanyin is seated in the pose of 'Royal Ease', with his right hand resting on his right bent knee, a posture that is known as the 'Water-Moon' form of the Bodhisattva Guanyin (Shuiyue Guanyin in Chinese). The iconography is based on important Buddhist scriptures referring to the Bodhisattva Guanyin, in particular the Avatamasaka Sutra from the Huayan Jing , the Sutra of Flower Adornment, and the Fahua Jing, the Lotus Sutra. They portray the Bodhisattva Guanyin as the universal saviour who can embody many different forms, male and female, young and old. The 'Water-Moon' iconography is based on passages from the Avatamsaka Sutra which describe the young prince Sudhana visiting the Bodhisattva Guanyin on Mount Potalaka to receive the teachings of the Dharma. It is here that the Bodhisattva Guanyin could be found in deep contemplation of the moon's reflection on the water of the surrounding sea. His Chinese name ' Shuiyue Guanyin' refers to this pose and to his nature attuned to the sounds of the world and able to hear all the world's suffering ( guanyin).This figure is sculpted as male deity for his defined torso is clearly visible beneath his diaphanous robes and bejewelled necklace. His garments reveal the strong Indian influence on sculpture of this period, almost a thousand years since Buddhism first reached China from India. He is dressed luxuriously with diaphanous scarves and skirt falling in ample folds around his body. An elaborate necklace suspending a large central pendant adorns his chest and we can assume that he was wearing bejewelled earrings. His costly attire and regal posture remind us that Bodhisattvas originally were aristocratic princes. His hair is carefully tied back in a high chignon. A depression on the front of the top know indicates that a small carved figure of the Buddha may originally have been placed here. Amitabha was similarly revered as the figure of compassion and the figure of Guanyin was to be born from a ray of light emanating from the right eye of the Buddha Amithaba.During the 10th to 13th centuries, painted wooden figures such as this magnificent figure of the Bodhisattva Guanyin in Water-Moon form were made for Buddhist temples in Northern China. At that time, the North of China was ruled by the Jurchen Jin dynasty (1115-1234), a nomadic people from the steppes of Central Asia that had defeated in war the two largest and most powerful nations in Asia, the Khitan Liao and the Han Chinese. Under the Jin, Buddhism flourished. The Jin rulers were highly conscious of the fact that Buddhism was not a native Chinese religion. Under their patronage Buddhism received the official support and veneration it lacked in other parts of the empire. Consequently, a plethora of Buddhist temples thrived in and around Buddhist centres of religious activity in Taiyuan and Mount Wutai in modern Shanxi province. The Jurchen Jin rulers gradually adopted Buddhism as the state religion, thus establishing a rich legacy of temples, tombs, and artefacts.Large sculptures such as this magnificent figure of the Bodhisattva Guanyin in Water-Moon form were originally made for important Buddhist temples. These were often large structures with several halls of worship connected by courtyards where groups of vibrantly painted wood sculptures would be positioned along walls and around central figures of devotion. Due to the large demand for religious sculpture for the furnishings of Buddhist temples, craftsmen soon moved from working in stone to sculpting in wood, a material that was less expensive and could be worked more easily. Traces of bright cobalt blue pigment and gilding can be found in the back of the folds of the skirt of this figure hinting at the colours that once made this figure come alive. The sheer size of the figure that is worked entirely in the round conveys an almost life-like impression. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
