{"id":32122,"title":"Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in the Water-Moon Form (Shuiyue Guanyin)","medium":"Wood, gesso and pigments","classification":"Sculpture","dimension":"40 1/2 x 33 1/2 x 20in. (102.9 x 85.1 x 50.8cm)","object_name":"Sculpture","continent":"Asia","country":"China","nationality":"Chinese","dated":"12th century","room":"Not on View","role":"Artist","text":"Of the many manifestations of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, perhaps none was more prevalent in East Asia than the uniquely Chinese form known as “Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara, ” which later also spread to Korea and Japan. This form of the bodhisattva presides over his own paradise, Potolaka, which is described in scripture as a rugged seaside cave from which Avalokiteshvara could admire the reflection of the moon in the water. Appropriately, he appears meditative and relaxed and is seated informally in the “royal-ease” posture. Ornately dressed, with silk robes, fluttering sashes, jewelry, and an elaborate hairstyle, he also wears a headpiece that features an image of Amitābha, the buddha to whom Avalokiteshvara attends. Believers might look to a sculpture like this as a guide for their own journeys toward enlightenment.","creditline":"Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton","accession_number":"99.24.2","artist":"China","department":"Asian Art","rights_type":"Public Domain","image_width":7777,"image_height":8763,"recent":0,"see_also":[],"sort_number":"99    24    2","dynasty":"Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)","image":"valid","public_access":1,"curator_approved":0,"highlights":0,"Cache_Location":"032000\\100\\20\\32122","Primary_RenditionNumber":"mia_8007583.jpg","Rights_Image_Display":"Full","related:audio-stops":[{"title":"Seated Kuan-Yin","_id":"32122","objectId":"32122","link":"http://audio-tours.s3.amazonaws.com/p353.mp3","number":"353","type":"audio"}],"mtime":"2026-02-04T06:00:50.797Z"}