Amazing Chinese Shiwan 石灣 Glazed Ware, Buddhist Zen master Damo, Qing Dynasty. This figure represents the well-known Buddhist master Damo, the founder of Zen Buddhism in China during the 6th century. The piece is real from late Qing Dynasty. Absolutely breathtaking terracotta, applying of the old (Song dynasty) splashed glazing technique on the sculptureHeight: 13.8 cm = 5.5 in.Width of the base: 14.5 cm = 5.75 in. Weight: 450 g = 1 lb. 1 oz. Condition: normal aging of the pottery and glaze, no defectsProvenance: from private collection in Florida, USA. References: Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an (Sanskrit: Dhyāna, Korean: Seon, Japanese: Zen) to China, and regarded as its first Chinese patriarch. According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Shaolinquan.Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend.[1][note 1] The principal Chinese sources vary on their account of Bodhidharma's origins.[4][5][note 2] Aside from the Chinese accounts, several popular traditions also exist regarding Bodhidharma's origins.[note 4]The accounts also differ on the date of his arrival, with one early account claiming that he arrived during the Liú Sòng Dynasty (420–479) and later accounts dating his arrival to the Liáng Dynasty (502–557). Bodhidharma was primarily active in the lands of the Northern Wèi Dynasty (386–534). Modern scholarship dates him to about the early 5th century.[15]Several stories about Bodhidharma have become popular legends, which are still being used in the Ch'an and Zen tradition.Bodhidharma's teachings and practice centered on meditation and the Lankavatara Sutra.The Anthology of the Patriarchal Hall (952) identifies Bodhidharma as the 28th Patriarch of Buddhism in an uninterrupted line that extends all the way back to the Buddha himself.Throughout Buddhist art, Bodhidharma is depicted as a rather ill-tempered, profusely bearded and wide-eyed barbarian. He is referred as "The Blue-Eyed Barbarian" (碧眼胡) in Chinese Chan texts.[16]Shiwan Ware was from kilns located in the Guangdong provincial city of Foshan. Area ceramic production experienced a long history by the late Ming period 16th century when ceramic artisans from perhaps Dehua and Jingdezhen relocated to the Shiwan area and expanded local production into a vigorous export related industry. Shiwan wares provide a contrast with more conservatively rendered Dehua efforts. Clay for the ware was provided not only from area preserves, but also from distant locations that could be variously mixed to provide a variety of textures and desired ceramic outcomes. The range could extend from a porcelain, that could rival Dehua in purity, to a rough stoneware. Shiwan ware was widely exported. Its glazing techniques directly influenced Japanese Shiga wares and others.

used, normal age wear no defects