Currently not on view
Fish-basket Guanyin (Yulan Guanyin 魚籃觀音),
after 1617 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Dong Daben 董大本, carver, active 17th century
Unidentified artist, calligrapher
Unidentified artist, calligrapher
Chinese
Ming dynasty, 1368–1644
y1958-176
Information
Title
Fish-basket Guanyin (Yulan Guanyin 魚籃觀音)
Dates
after 1617 (stone); late 19th to first half of 20th century (rubbing)
Maker
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink rubbing on paper
Dimensions
image: 132 x 46.6 cm. (51 15/16 x 18 3/8 in.)
152.5 x 51 cm. (60 1/16 x 20 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of George Rowley
Object Number
y1958-176
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
Top:
步出看山紫竹林來風
飛度水雲津賣魚曾
入金少市點化時人妄
想心
[?]
萬曆丁巳[1617]歲季冬元旦
Summary:
From the mountains and Purple Bamboo Grove [on Potalaka, Guanyin] flew across [to this world of sentient beings]; upon entering the city of Jinshao to sell fish, while transformed [into a young girl], [the men] wishfully think in vain. [Signature? unidentified]. “On New Year’s Day, winter, the dingsi cyclical year of the Wanli reign.”
Bottom left:
登邑石工董大本鐫立刻
“Engraved by the stone craftsman Dong Daben of Dengyi”
少林寺弟子通**[新立？]
[][]董大本
“Disciple Tong . . . of Shaolin Temple, [raised anew]
. . . Dong Daben”
Description
The bodhisattva Guanyin in the manifestation of a young lady with bare feet carrying a basket with a fish. This illustrates the variously told tale of a beautiful lady in the Tang dynasty who was offered marriage by many suitors. She consented to marry the person who could memorize a series of Buddhist sutras, but on the night of the wedding she died. Later, a monk appeared before the husband, Mr. Ma (hence, Fish-basket Guanyin is also known as “Mr. Ma’s wife” ), and when they opened her coffin, nothing was left except bones linked by a gold chain, the sign of a holy personage, particularly a bodhisattva. Such tales gained popularity in China during the Song dynasty and the fishmonger, who is not whom she seems, comes to be identified with Guanyin. On the carved stone from which this rubbing was taken, there is an inscription dated to 1617 and the stone carver is named as Dong Daben. [It appears from unclear additional inscriptions at bottom left, that the image was later recut by a Buddhist disciple named Tong at Shaolin Temple, and the recarved stone may also have been done by Dong Daben].
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