In the first millennium when Buddhism first arrived in Southeast Asia, Mahayana imagery was common; eventually an older branch of the religion prevailed in the region. As a result, the representation of bodhisattvas diminished, except in Vietnam, where the Mahayana survives. Chinese traditions no doubt influenced this intriguing lacquered wood depiction of Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara, known as Quan Am in Vietnam. Unfortunately, most of the work’s attributes are lost, but the sculpture does retain two orbs in the uppermost hands, representing wish-fulfilling jewels.