Seated Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin)

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record

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