OBJECTS OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIAL 145 



("the one who looks down from above," namely, upon suffering 

 humanity with compassion), the emanation or contemplation (dhyani) 

 Bodhisattva of Amitabha, of whom Gautama Buddha was the 

 earthly embodiment. Avalokitesvara has, therefore, charge of the 

 world until Gautama's successor, the next Buddha in the person of 

 Maitreya appears. Kuan- Yin is bodily healer as well as conveyor of 

 the souls to the Paradise of Amitabha in the "bark of salvation." 

 Seven cases of distress are generally specified in which she is ready to 

 extend her hand of mercy: Dangers caused by the sword; fetters or 

 chains; fire; water; demons; goblins; and an enemy. Sometimes 

 danger by storm is added, to make four couples complete. As child 

 bestowing, she is represented carrying a male infant in her arms and is 

 invoked by women desiring offspring. Her worship is most widely 

 extended in China and Japan. Height, 8K inches. Foochow, China. 

 (Plate 45, Cat. No. 216026, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Gen. G. W. Bailey. 



165. Kuannon. — Wood, painted and decorated. Standing on a blue 

 base, holding an infant in the left hand. Face, hands, bosom, and 

 infant are painted white, the lower dress, brownish green with broad 

 gold border; the upper, blue. Height, 6 inches. Kobe, Japan. 

 (Plate 46, Cat. No. 154824, U.S.N.M.) 



166. Kuannon. — Lead, bronzed, standing in a shrine of plain wood 

 on a green lotus, holding in her right hand a sort of scepter (ju-i), in 

 the left, the precious ball (mani). Height, 7K inches. Shigisan, 

 Jamato, Japan. (Cat. No. 150581, U.S.N.M.) 



167. Kuan-Yin. — Wood, painted. Holding infant. Faces, hands, 

 and feet are painted white; the dress, brown. Height, 6 inches. 

 Foochow, China. (Cat. No. 21 6027, U.S.N.M.) Gift of Gen. G. W. 

 Bailey. 



168. Kuan-Yin {?). — Pewter, red lacquered and gilt. Seated in 

 meditation. Height, 9K inches. China. (Cat. No.311805,U.S.N.M.) 

 Bequest of Miss Elizabeth S. Stevens. 



169. Kuan-Yin. — Copper, silvered. Statuette without base. The 

 hands are wrapped in the voluminous folds of the dress, which, how- 

 ever, do not conceal the necklace with three pendants. The veil is 

 drawn over the head and hangs down behind. Height, 4J^ inches. 

 China. (Cat. No. 311808, U.S.N.M.) Bequest of Miss Elizabeth S. 

 Stevens. 



170. Tshen-ju- Kuannon {thousand-Mnded Kuannon). — Relief of in- 

 durated clay, representing the goddess with many arms standing on a 

 lotus. The distinctive attribute of the goddess, namely, mercy, is illus- 

 trated in this realistic manner by an image with many hands that are 

 ever ready to help the needy. Height, 3 inches. Kobe, Japan. 

 (Plate 47 (left), Cat. No. 116220, U.S.N.M.) 



1 71 . Kuannon. — Wooden statuette painted and gilt, with six arms 

 seated in lacquered shrine. Height, 4 inches. Japan. (Plate 47 

 (right), Cat. No. 154272, U.S.N.M.) 



