Explore Beyond the Show

Image Gallery: India

 Fig. 7: Avalokiteshvara or Padmapani, Pakistan (Swat Valley) or Kashmir, 7th century; bronze inlaid with silver and copper; H. 83/4 in., W. 5 ¾ in., D. 4 1/8 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick and Fletcher Funds, 1974, 1974.273.   7a. Avalokiteshvara Holding a Lotus Flower, India, Bihar, Nalanda, Pala period, 9th century; stone; ca. 42 x 15 in., National Museum, New Delhi, India, photo: Wikimedia Commons.     

Image Gallery: China

7c. Vase (Guanyin Ping), China, Northern Qi dynasty (550–577); bronze; H. 6 1/8 in., diam. 1 7/16 in. (rim), 1 15/16 in. (foot); The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of James Freeman, 2002, 2002.290. 7. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), China, Tang dynasty, late 7th–8th century; gilt leaded bronze, piece-mold cast; H. 9 1/6 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fletcher Fund, 1933, 33.91, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 8a. Guanyin of the Water Moon, China, Dunhuang, Northern Song dynasty, 968; ink and color on silk; Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Purchase, F1930.36.  21a. Heart Sutra, Zhao Mengfu (1254–1322), China, photo: Wikimedia Commons. 16b. Guanyin Acolytes, China, Yuan Dynasty, 1313; ink and color on silk; 41 1/2 x 21 1/2 in.; National Palace Museum, Taipei, 001957N0000000001. 8. White-robed Guanyin, inscribed by Quanshi Zongle (1318–1391), China, Ming dynasty, late 14th century; hanging scroll, ink on paper; image: 36 x 12 7/8 in., mount: 70 x 17 5/8 in., The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Edward Elliott Family Collection, The Dillon Fund Gift, 1982, 1982.3.3, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 16c. Pilgrim Sudhana, China, Ming dynasty, late 15th–early 17th century; wood (linden) with pigment, lacquer, and gilding; single woodblock construction; 27 1/2 x 12 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, 1942, 42.25.6, photo: www.metmuseum.org.   8c. White-robed Guanyin, China, Fujian, Dehua, Qing dynasty, 17th century; porcelain with ivory-white glaze; 9 1/2 x 5 7/8 in.; Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of Dr. Yale Kneeland, Jr., B.A. 1922, 1956.42.12.     17a. A View of Mount Putuo of the Southern Sea, China, Qing period, late 19th century; cloth, paper, pigment, wood, metal, string; image: 21 5/8 x 39 15/16 in., scroll: 27 15/16 x 44 1/16 in.; Courtesy of the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, 70/11655. 17. The Complete Map of the Imperially Established South Sea Mount Putuo Area, China, Qing period, early 20th century; hand-colored woodblock print; 43 5/16 x 24 7/8 in.; Courtesy of the Division of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, ASIA/0578. 1c. Amitabha Altar, 2005, photo: Wikimedia Commons.  17c. Statue of Guanyin on Mount Putuo Island, China, 2006, photo: Jakob Halun, Wikimedia Commons. 17b. Aerial view of Mount Putuo Island, photo: chinablog.cc.

Image Gallery: Japan

21. Sumidera Heart Sutra (Sumidera shingyo), Japan, Nara period, 710–794; handscroll, ink on paper; 9 x 16 11/16 in.; Princeton University Art Museum, Museum purchase, Fowler McCormick, Class of 1921, Fund, 2012-99, photo: Princeton University Art Museum/Art Resource, NY. 25b. Womb Realm (Taizokai) Mandala, Japan, Heian period, 9th century; 72 7/8 x 64 11/16 in.; Toji, Kyoto, photo: Wikimedia Commons. 15c. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Kannon), Japan, Heian period, late 12th century; wood; Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1909.350a-b. 22b. “Universal Gateway,” Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, Sugawara Mitsushige (active mid–13th century), calligrapher, Japan, 1257; handscroll, ink, color, and gold on paper; 30 ft. 8 1/16 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Louisa Eldridge McBurney Gift, 1953, 53.7.3, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 9a. Guanyin in White Robe, Japan, early Ming copy after Muqi Fachang (active mid–13th century); ink on silk; Nantoyoso Collection, Japan, photo: Wikimedia Commons. 13a. Welcoming Descent of the Buddha of Infinite Light and Twenty-five Bodhisattvas, Japan, Kamakura period, early 14th century; ink, gold, and color on silk; 62 5/16 x 63 11/16 in.; Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1911.475. 13. Descent of Eleven-headed Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), Japan, Kamakura period, 14th century; hanging scroll, ink, color, gold, and cut gold on silk; image: 33 15/16 x 15 1/4 in., mount: 64 1/4 x 19 1/2 in., The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Charles Wrightsman Gift, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, Dodge, Pfeiffer and Rogers Funds, and funds from various donors, 1972, 1972.181, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 9. White-robed Kannon (Pandaravasini Avalokiteshvara), Japan, Muromachi period, late 14th century; hanging scroll, ink on silk; image: 37 15/16 x 19 3/8 in., mount: 73 1/4 x 23 15/16 in.; Princeton University Art Museum, Gift of Duane Wilder, Class of 1951, y1992-6, photo: Bruce M. White, Courtesy of Princeton University Art Museum/Art Resource, NY. 10a. Splashed Ink Landscape, Sesshu Toyo (1420–1506), Japan, 1495; hanging scroll, ink on paper; 58 1/2 x 12 7/8 in.; Tokyo National Museum, A-282. 10. White-robed Kannon, attributed to Shugen (fl. 1469–1521), Japan, Muromachi period; hanging scroll, ink on paper; 32 1⁄4 x 14 5/16in. ; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, 2014.29. 10b. White-robed Kannon, Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kano Motonobu (1476–1559), Japan, ca. first half of the 16th century; hanging scroll, ink, color and gold on silk; 61 7/8 x 30 1/16 in.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Fenollosa-Weld Collection, 11.4267, photo: Wikimedia Commons.  18b. Buddhist Worship in a Shrine, Nachi Pilgrimage Mandala, detail. 23b. Portable Shrine with the Horse-headed Kannon, Japan, Edo period, ca. 1620; fruitwood with cut-out gold, lacquered case with maki-e decoration; shrine: 7 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 3 in., statue: H. 2 5/16; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Friends of Far Eastern Arts Gifts, 1985, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 13b. Kannon Holding a Lotus Seat, Japan, Edo period, traditionally attributed to the 13th century but probably 17th century; wood with gilt lacquer; object: H. 11 1/4 in., base: 1 15/16 x 4 15/16 x 4 15/16 in.; Yale University Art Gallery, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Jaffe, 1968.104.3.  16. Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), Japan, Edo period, 1615–1868; hanging scroll, ink and color on silk; image: 61 7/8 x 33 in., mount: 87 7/8 x 39 1/2 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.20.1.   19. Saigoku Pilgrimage Scroll, Japan, 19th century; ink stamps on paper mounted on silk; mounted prints: 36 x 14 5/8 in., overall including brocade and knobs: 58 1/2 x 22 3/4 in.; Private Collection. 19a. Saigoku Station No.1: Nachisan Seigantoji, detail of Saigoku Pilgrimage Scroll. 19b. Saigoku Station No.16: Otowasan Kiyomizudera, detail of Saigoku Pilgrimage Scroll. 19c. Inscription on back of Saigoku Pilgrimage Scroll, 1897. 21b. Seiryoji Buddhist Temple, Sutra Copying Room, Japan, 2013, photo: Wikimedia Commons. 18a. Nachi, 2014, photo: Mengna Da. 18c. Seigantoji, Nachi, 2014, photo: Mengna Da.

Image Gallery: Nepal

14a. Bodhisattva Lokeshvara, Nepal, 9th century; copper alloy; 9 5/16 x 2 in.; The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Promised gift of John and Berthe Ford, F.165. 3. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Nepal, Transitional period, late 10th–early 11th century; gilt copper alloy with inlays of semiprecious stones; 26 3/4 x 11 1/2 x 5 1/4 in.; Asia Society, New York, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, 1979.47, photo: Susumu Wakisaka, Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Tokyo. 

Image Gallery: Tibet

13c. Eleven–headed Avalokiteshvara, Western Tibet, Dungkar, mid–10th–12th century; wall painting, photo: Filippo Zonta, 2013. 4a. Shadakshari Triad and Other Deities, Tibet, early 12th century; pigment on cotton; 34 x 29 3/8 in.; The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Promised gift of John and Berthe Ford, F.120. 6. The All-seeing Lord Avalokiteshvara, Tibet, 14th–15th century; ground mineral pigment on cotton; 29 1⁄4 x 25 1⁄4 x 1 1⁄4 in.; The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, C2006.66.190. 24. The All-seeing Lord with Four Arms, Avalokiteshvara Chaturbhuja, Tibet, 14th–15th century; pigment on cloth; 22 1/4 x 18 1/2 in.; The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, C2002.8.1. 2b. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Western Tibet, 15th–16th century; copper alloy; H. 7 1/2 in.; Asia Society, New York, Gift from The Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, 1994.4, photo: Lynton Gardiner. 15. Ekadash15. Eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara, Tibet or China, 17th–18th century; gilded bronze; 15 15/16 x 9 1/2 in.; Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 85.04.0160.amukha 85.04.0160 edited 4. Avalokiteshvara, One of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, Eastern Tibet, 18th century; pigment on cloth with silk mount; 39 3/8 x 20 3/4 x 1/2 in.; The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, C2008.9.  28, 29, 30 Amitayus (Center), China, Qing dynasty, 18th century; gilt bronze; H. 7 1/8 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.4. White Tara (Left), Sino-Tibetan, 19th century; bronze with cold gold and inlays; H. 7 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.1. Six-Syllable Lord of the World (Shadakshari Lokeshvara) (Right), Tibet, 18th century; gilt bronze; H. 5 3/4 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.3. 5. Four–Armed Avalokiteshvara, China or Tibet, 18th–19th century; gilded metal with inlays; 10 1/4 x 7 1/4 in.; Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 85.04.0682. 27. Mother of Pearl Prayer Beads, Tibet, early 19th century; mother of pearl, coral, ivory, silver alloy, copper alloy; 21 3/4 x 2 1/8 x 1/2 in.; The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Anne Breckenridge Dorsey, C2012.49. 1. Amitabha Buddha, Central Tibet, 19th century; pigment on cloth; 38 1/2 x 25 1/2 in.; The Rubin Museum of Art, New York, F1997.6.3.  26. Prayer Wheel, Tibet, 19th century; metal, wood, bone, paper; 11 x 2 3⁄4 in.; The Newark Museum, Gift of Mary Pyne Cutting, 1982, 82.82, photo: Robert Goodbody, Courtesy of Newark Museum.  23a. Man’s Portable Amulet Shrine (Gau) with Case and the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Eastern Tibet, Kham region, ca. 1900; silver, parcel-gilt copper and copper, cloth and leather case, gilt copper alloy; 6 x 5 x 3 in.; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Francis Eric Bloy Bequest, AC1994.116.3.1-3, photo: Wikimedia Commons. 25. Avalokiteshvara Mandala, India, Dharamsala, September 1991; painting on cloth; image: 22 3/4 x 22 3/4 in., framed: 29 3/4 x 29 1/2 in.; Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, 92.11.1025.  26b. Prayer Wheels at Tsuglagkhang Temple, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India, 2005, photo: Liz Highleyman, Flickr Commons. 15a. Pilgrims Prostrating at the Jokhang, Lhasa, Tibet, 2006, Luca Galuzzi, www.galuzzi.it. 26a. Elderly Tibetan Woman with Prayer Wheel and Recitation Beads, Lhasa Barkhor, Tibet, 2006, Luca Galuzzi, www.galuzzi.it. 14b. Potala Palace, Lhasa, 2007, photo: Ondrej Zvacek, Wikimedia Commons. 28-30a. Altar with Statues of Padmasambhava, Shakyamuni Buddha, and Amitayus, Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, 2012, photo: H.S. Sahyadri, Wikimedia Commons. 1b. Amitabha Altar, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock, NY, 2014. 25c. Khenpo Choephel at Work on a Mandala, Asia Society, New York, 2014. 26c. Chenrezig Prayer Flag, Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock, NY, 2015. 28-30c. Home Buddhist Altar, 2015. 27a. Wooden Prayer Beads, photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Image Gallery: South-East Asia

6b. Thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara (Quan Am), Vietnam, 17th century or later; lacquered wood; 30 x 31 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Gift of Danielle Selby ’13, 2014.31.5.

Image Gallery: Other Places

16a. Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara, Korea, Goryeo dynasty, first half of the 14th century; hanging scroll, ink and color on silk; image: 45 1/16 x 21 7/8 in., mount: 79 3/8 x 28 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914, 14.76.6, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 11a. Madonna and Child, workshop of Giovanni Bellini, Italy, ca. 1510; oil on wood; painted surface: 12 3/4 x 10 1/8 in., overall: 13 1/2 x 10 7/8 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Jules Bache Collection, 1949, 49.7.2, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 27c. Rosary, Philippines, 17th–19th century; gold; L: 17 1/2 in.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1912, 12.176.6, photo: www.metmuseum.org. 27b. Men with Prayer Beads, Thimpu, Bhutan, 2013, photo: Arian Zwegers, Flickr Commons, https://www.flickr.com/photos/azwegers/15658124477/in/photostream.