Guanyin

Statue of Guanyin

Chinese, 18th century
Gilt bronze

Our Object of the Month for December is this statue of a bodhisattva known in China as Guanyin. In her hands she holds a small image of a child. In this form, Guanyin is known as ‘bringer of sons’ and is believed to have the power to bless people with children. The imagery of this statue is similar to traditional Christian depictions of the Madonna and child.

Our Lady of Grace, Portuguese school, wikimedia commons

By the time the Guanyin statue was made in the 1700s, there had already been an awareness of Christianity in China for over a thousand years. According to ancient records, Christianity was brought into China in 635 by a Persian monk who introduced his religion to the emperor of the time. An imperial edict was issued in 638 allowing the spread of Christianity and the building of a church. A stone monument was unearthed in Xi’an which was made in 781 and includes an inscription explaining the early history of Christianity in China. The top of the monument is carved with the inscription ‘Monument to Disperse the Luminous Religion of the Eastern Roman Empire’. The ‘luminous religion’ was the ancient term used for Christianity in China. In 845 the emperor ordered all monks of foreign religions to return to normal life, which meant that it became more difficult to practice Christianity. However, historical documents show that there were still some Christians after this period.

Photograph of the Xi’an monument, wikimedia commons

Jesuit missionaries and Portuguese traders brought further Christian influence in the 1500s and 1600s. Porcelain Madonna and child statues inspired by Guanyin were made in China for the Western market. In return, Christian imagery influenced domestic Chinese art.

The bodhisattva Guanyin in her aspect as the ‘bringer of sons’, porcelain, 1680 – 1750, V&A Museum, accession number C.58-2004

A bodhisattva is believed to be a being who has taken a vow to help all others achieve enlightenment. Bodhisattvas embody different virtues – Guanyin embodies compassion. Guanyin is the Chinese form of Avalokitesvara who is one of the most important Buddhist deities across East Asia, South East Asia, and Tibet. Avalokitesvara’s depiction as Guanyin demonstrates how Buddhist beliefs encountered and adapted to the cultures of different countries as it spread out from ancient India. Although Guanyin’s appearance is usually different to statues of Avalokitesvara, they can still be identified as the same deity by certain attributes. One of the key attributes of Avalokitesvara and Guanyin is a small image of the buddha Amitabha either in the crown or held above the head.

Statue of Avalokitesvara, gilt bronze, Sino-Tibetan, 18th century, Chiddingstone Castle collection, object number 01.1539

Our Object of the Month depicts Guanyin in a flowing robe, a large pair of earrings, and a crown with the image of the buddha Amitabha which is partly covered by a veil. Bodhisattvas are depicted wearing jewellery and fine clothing. In contrast, the buddha is usually depicted wearing simple monk’s robes, reflecting his enlightenment and detachment from material things. The statue is made from cast bronze with gilding on the face, ears, neck, and hands. It will be on display in the castle’s Buddhist Room when we re-open for visitors in March 2026.

This object is just one of the many objects that form part of Denys Eyre Bower’s five impressive collections which include Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite, and Books. For more information on these objects, review our Object of the Month series, visit the Historic House and Collections or contact our Curator, Naomi Collick by email or by calling 01892 870347.