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Avalokiteshvara

late 9th–early 10th century

Not on view

In this print the bodhisattva holds a willow branch, symbol of healing, in his right hand and a flask of pure water in his left. He stands on a lotus pedestal atop a hexagonal base that symbolizes Mount Sumeru, the center of the Buddhist universe. The caption includes the instruction: “With pure heart, every morning, recite [the bodhisattva’s name] one thousand times.” The woodblock has been carved with borders that resemble the mounting silks of a hanging scroll.

Avalokiteshvara, Woodblock print,
ink on paper, China — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Shengguan zizai pusa

Title: Avalokiteshvara

Period: late Tang (618–907) or early Five Dynasties (907–960)

Date: late 9th–early 10th century

Culture: China

Medium: Woodblock print, ink on paper

Dimensions: Image: 11 13/16 x 3 3/4 in. (30 x 9.6 cm)
Overall: 21 15/16 x 15 15/16 in. (55.7 x 40.5 cm)

Classification: Prints

Credit Line: On loan from the British Museum

Accession Number: PI.009

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.