Gilt bronze figure of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion, seated on double lotus base in padmasana, crossed legged position. The right hand gesture is called karana mudra and is used to ward off evil, whilst the left hand holds a pearl, symbolising protection and wisdom. Religious figures such as this one are believed to help people through difficult times. Small gilt-bronze figures of this type were produced by lost-wax or sand-mould casting, then gilt and burnished. Late Ming / early Qing.

“My Mum is a Buddhist; This object made me think of her. I grew up focusing on my academics and not paying too much attention to religion. I work as an accountant; I use numbers for a living. There is not much room for interpretation. Still, as I have gotten older and become a mother myself, I value more and more my mother’s input and perspective. It is a helpful guide in an unpredictable world. I feel blessed to have both of these perspectives that carry with them lenses into different eras of Chinese history and, ultimately, different ways to be Chinese.”

Emily Cong, Project Participant