Minneapolis Institute of Art

Seated Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin)

China

Date

late 11th–early 12th century

Medium

Wood, gesso, mineral pigments, and gold

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This sculpture depicts the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, associated with compassion and mercy. Layered robes and ornate jewelry reflect the bodhisattva’s continued presence in the earthly realm rather than in nirvana. Traces of red, green, and gold suggest the once richly decorated surface. Slender fingers perform the shuni mudra, a gesture symbolizing patience, discipline, and mental focus. The topknot, once likely adorned with a crown, emphasizes the figure’s elevated spiritual status. Known in China as Guanyin, or “perceiver of sounds, ” Avalokiteshvara was widely venerated by devotees seeking compassion and guidance toward enlightenment. Asia

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