{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O130438"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130438/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HG7309/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HG7309/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HG7309","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KU5833","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O130438/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O130438","accessionNumber":"A.216-1946","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"The Bodhisattva Guanyin holding a vase","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Compassionate Guanyin has always been a favourite deity for Chinese Buddhists. Often known by the Sanskrit name 'Avalokitesvara', Guanyin is said to have come from a ray of light emanating from the Buddha Amitabha. This typical representation shows him wearing a headdress incorporating the Buddha Amitabha, surrounded by a lotus halo (now damaged). In his left hand, Guanyin holds a vase, said to relieve the thirst of his devotees.","physicalDescription":"Standing Bodhisattva with flat back and halo (partly broken). He is wearing a straight robe and a headress with a figure on. He is holding a vase. The sculpture is made of brown and black carved stone. The right hand has broken off. The figure has no feet to act as a base, and its back is flat, suggesting that it was hung on a wall.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Granite","id":"AAT11183"},{"text":"limestone","id":"AAT11286"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Stone","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Sui","id":"AAT18419"},{"text":"Tang","id":"AAT18420"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2014HG7309","2018KU5833"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47E (VA)","id":"THES49794"},"free":"","case":"PL004","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"575 - 625","earliest":"0575-01-01","latest":"0625-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"97","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"19","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Footprint: W=14; D=19. NB Material unconfirmed - limestone or granite.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This figure was purchased from the Sotheby's sale on 22 November 1946. The catalogue states 'An important stone figure of a bodhisattva with high head-dress and jewelled diadem, part of the mandorla missing as is also the right arm, in unusually ornate tasselled robes and deep sleeves, holding a vase in the left hand, the features in <i>samadhi</i> and fully rounded, brown tinted granite, 36in., 6/7th century; on octagonal lotus carved pedestal.'","historicalContext":"This figure represents possibly the most popular figure of worship in Buddhism. It is a typical image of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, called Guanyin in Chinese. Guanyin is said to have come from a ray of light emanating from the Buddha Amitabha. This figure wears a headdress incorporating the figure of the Buddha.","briefDescription":"The Bodhisattva Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara) holding a vase; Scu, China, sculpture, 575-625","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Avalokiteshvara","id":"N5276"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"觀音","id":"CIT281067"},{"text":"站立 (人體姿勢)","id":"CIT278931"},{"text":"化佛","id":"CIT0283557"},{"text":"冠","id":"CIT281574"},{"text":"頭飾","id":"CIT288158"},{"text":"瓔珞","id":"CIT282694"},{"text":"綵帶","id":"CIT282933"},{"text":"腰帶","id":"CIT285621"},{"text":"裙","id":"CIT289582"},{"text":"執持","id":"CIT282802"},{"text":"淨瓶","id":"CIT0291766"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"The Bodhisattva Guanyin\r\nAbout 575-625 (Sui or early Tang dynasty)\r\nChina\r\n\r\nCompassionate Guanyin has always been a favourite deity for Chinese Buddhists. Often known by the Sanskrit name 'Avalokitesvara', Guanyin is said to have come from a ray of light emanating from the Buddha Amitabha. This typical representation shows him wearing a headdress incorporating the Buddha Amitabha, surrounded by a lotus halo (now damaged). In his left hand, Guanyin holds a vase, said to relieve the thirst of his devotees. \r\n\r\nGranite\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.216-1946","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["A.216-1946"],"accessionNumberNum":"216","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1946,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-21","recordCreationDate":"2006-12-19","availableToBook":false}}