Bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)
Large-scale figures of bodhisattvas wearing sumptuous jewelry epitomize stylistic and iconographic innovations in Chinese sculpture from the second half of the sixth century. The lavishly jeweled harness adorning this bodhisattva is made of two long strands of pearl-like clusters and multifaceted beads. Some elements, such as the triangular pendants and the monster mask, have Chinese precedents, whereas others, such as the pearl cabochons, derive from Central Asian traditions. The appearance of such ornately decorated sculptures, which later became standard in Chinese Buddhist art, attests to a growing devotion to Avalokiteshvara in the second half of the sixth century.
#119. Bodhisattva, probably Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)
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