Currently not on view
Moon-gazing Guanyin in a Lotus Leaf Boat,
1304 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Yongda 永達 (or Yueyan Yongda 月嚴永達), inscriber, died 1310
Zhili 智利, carving agent, active Yuan dynasty
Zhili 智利, carving agent, active Yuan dynasty
Chinese
Yuan dynasty, 1271–1368
y1958-149
Information
Title
Moon-gazing Guanyin in a Lotus Leaf Boat
Dates
1304 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Maker
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image: 70.5 x 40.4 cm. (27 3/4 x 15 7/8 in.)
91 x 45.4 cm. (35 13/16 x 17 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1958-149
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
Yongda 永達 (d. 1310), hao: Yueyan月嚴, abbot of Shaolin Si 少林寺 monastery, Dengfeng 登封, Henan province.
Upper right:
[基山寫]
Rubbing seal: [][][][] sq. relief
Lower:
少林月嚴稽首讚
Monk Yueyan of the Shaolin Monastery Bows in Praise
幻人呈幻事，
依幻非真相。
真滅幻亦滅，
了無相可得。
This Chan Buddhist inscription is written on the key theme of the relationship between illusion (幻) and reality (真).
Tentative translation:
The illusory man presents illusory matters, resting on illusion and not on real affairs.
If reality disappears then illusion also vanishes, and in the end neither can be gained.
大元大德八年[1304]四月日提點僧智利立石
The Superintendent of Monks Zhili erected the stone on a day in the 4th month of the 8th year of the Dade reign of the Great Yuan dynasty.
Description
In a circular panel left in reserve is the bodhisattva Guanyin reclining in a large lotus leaf in water gazing up at the crescent moon and clouds. Nearby floats a transparent bowl with a vase containing a willow branch. The represented subject is the Leaf or Lotus Leaf Guanyin (一葉觀音 or 蓮葉觀音) that hints at the illusory nature of this world, such as the reflection of the moon in water, which may echoed in the shape of the round panel. Below is an inscription that transcribes lines concerning the relationship between illusion and reality by Yongda, abbot of Shaolin Si monastery. At far left is a short inscription that dates the carving and raising of the pictorial stone from which this rubbing was taken to the 4th month in 1304 through the agency of the Yuan dynasty monk Zhili.
Culture
Period
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