Image of Guanyin. China, early 20th century.
Chalcedony.
Measurements: 25 x 13 x 8 cm (without base) ; 28,5 x 13 x 8 cm (with base).
This piece is a carving made entirely in chalcedony, in two shades of grey with some inlays of other minerals. It depicts Guanyin, dressed in softly folded fabrics and with her hair tied up in a high bun. She holds an urn in her hands.
Also known as the bodhisattva of compassion, Guanyin is revered by East Asian Buddhists. As a result of syncretism, it is commonly accepted that she is the female counterpart of Avalokitesvara, the Hindu bodhisattva of compassion. The first Buddhist monk to refer to Guanyin as female was Kumarajiva, translating the Lotus Sutra into Chinese in 406 AD. With the introduction of Vajrayana Buddhism in China during the Tang dynasty in the 8th century, the depiction of Avalokitesvara as a beautiful female figure dressed in white grew in popularity. In popular devotion, Guanyin rescues those who turn to her in times of trouble, especially in the face of danger from water, fire or weapons. As a Merciful Mother, she also responds to the requests of those who wish to have children, which is why she is often depicted accompanied by a child. The iconography of Guanyin is rich and varied, and includes various symbolic elements alluding to different concepts.
Chalcedony is a silica mineral that belongs to the quartz family. It is a mineral with which it shares the same chemical formula; however, chalcedony does not form well-developed crystals. The crystals that give body to this mineral are tiny, so small as to be unnoticeable, and are densely packed together to form fibres that are immersed in a more or less amorphous matrix. Their colouring can be variable.