Guanyin on lion. Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1910

Guanyin on lion. Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1910.
Relief enamel in various colors and gilding.
Measurements: 19 x 23 x 11 cm.

Also known as bodhisattva of compassion, Guanyin is venerated by the Buddhists of East Asia. As a result of syncretism, it is commonly accepted that her figure is the female counterpart of Avalokitesvara, Hindu bodhisattva of compassion. The first Buddhist monk who referred to Guanyin in feminine form was Kumarajiva, when he translated 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 representation 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 difficulty, especially in the face of dangers produced by 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 usually represented accompanied by a child. The iconography of Guanyin is rich and varied, and includes various symbolic elements alluding to different concepts. One of them is the flowering lotus branch, Buddhist symbol of purity because it emerges untainted from the mud. Other symbols are the willow branch, with which the bodhisattva sprinkles the nectar of divine life, and the vase or small bottle, which is the nectar of compassion and wisdom.