Currently not on view
Empress Dowager Cisheng in the Guise of Guanyin as the Nine-lotus Bodhisattva, and Empress Dowager Cisheng in the Guise of Guanyin with a Fish Basket,
1594 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Chinese
Ming dynasty, 1368–1644
y1958-171 a-b
Information
Title
Empress Dowager Cisheng in the Guise of Guanyin as the Nine-lotus Bodhisattva, and Empress Dowager Cisheng in the Guise of Guanyin with a Fish Basket
Dates
1594 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Medium
Two hanging scrolls; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image (a): 88 x 64.5 cm. (34 5/8 x 25 3/8 in.); overall: 108.5 x 68.5 cm. (42 11/16 x 26 15/16 in.)
image (b): 87.5 x 65 cm. (34 7/16 x 25 9/16 in.); overall: 108.3 x 68.8 cm. (42 5/8 x 27 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1958-171 a-b
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
(same on both scrolls)
Main image area -
讚曰：惟我聖母，慈仁格天。感斯嘉兆，闕產瑞蓮。
加大士像，圖寫流傳。延國福民，霄壤同堅。
大明萬曆甲午年[1594]五月吉日造
Draft translation
The eulogy says:
Our Holy Mother’s compassion and humaneness reached heaven.
[Heaven] was moved [to manifest] a propitious omen, and from the void produced auspicious lotuses.
Adding the Bodhisattva’s image [with the lotuses], and picturing them to be transmitted [for the sake of posterity (or wide circulation)].
[With wishes] To prolong the nation and bring blessings to the people, with heaven and earth alike standing resolute.
Made on an auspicious day in the 5th month of the jiawu cyclical year in the Wanli reign of the Great Ming.”
慈聖宣文明肅皇太后之寶 (in the shape of a large sq. relief seal)
[Xiaoding taihou 孝定太后 (1546-1614), in 1601 given the title 慈聖宣文明肅皇太后之寶]
Top margin -
Center: 佛 “Buddha”
Right: 西湖玉泉山 勝景 “Wonderful scenic spot: Mount Yuquan of West Lake.”
Notes:
1. Here, Mount Yuquan designates a site in Beijing to the west of West Lake, which in the Qing dynasty became Lake Kunming of the Yihe Yuan imperial garden-palace or Summer Palace. There was also a Mount Yuquan at West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, after which Lake Kunming in the Summer Palace was modeled.
Left (on Nine-Lotus Bodhisattva): 勅賜護國 慈恩寺
“Bestowed by imperial order in protection of the state to Ci’en Si temple.”
Left (on Guanyin with a Fish Basket): 勅賜護國 慈聖寺
“Bestowed by imperial order in protection of the state to Cisheng Si temple.”
Notes:
1. Ci’en Si 慈恩寺 temple was located at Qinglong Qiao 青龍橋 bridge 25 li-miles outside Xizhi Men 西直門 gate, Beijing. Built by the Wanli Emperor for his mother as recorded in Rixia jiuwen kao 《日下旧闻考》 juan 100.
2. Cisheng Si 慈聖寺 temple was located near Hangtian Qiao 航天橋 bridge in the Haidianqu海澱區 area of Beijing (west of Fucheng Men 阜成門 gate). Built by the Wanli Emperor for his mother as recorded in Rixia jiuwen kao《日下旧闻考》. After the Cultural Revolution, the only building that survives was the pagoda.
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