The classification “Asian art” includes a diverse variety of countries and cultural identities from the Pacific Asian Rim including: China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.. We celebrate the richness of Asian culture through our broad selection of cultural motifs from Chinese Art, Buddhism Religion, Buddha and Kuan Yin, Happy Laughing Buddha, Terracotta Warriors as Xian, Japanese Samurai, and Hinduism.
Kuan-Yin Goddess of Mercy – Kuan Yin, originally known as Avalokiteswara (‘the Lord who regards’), is a highly revered manifestation of the Buddha who appears in Chinese scriptures around 400 A.D. Kuan Yin means the ‘one who hears the cries of the world’ and personifies the compassion of the Buddha for the needy. She is the embodiment of the yin principle.
She is usually represented as a young female deity but she has the power to assume whatever form necessary in order to carry out her vow which is to appear in any way necessary to lead beings out of suffering. She is often shown holding a vase containing the waters of compassion, the lotus flower of enlightenment or the jewel of three treasures.
Guanyin Jin or Yuan Dynasty 1115-1234 CE or 1271-1368 CE China wood overlaid with Gesso and Gilt Penn Museum
Gautama Buddha was born in 563 B.C. in northeast India. The Buddha was the son of the King of the Sakyas. Suddhodana, who ruled at Kapilavastu, on the border of Nepal. His mother was Queen Maya. He was named Siddartha. He lived amidst the pleasures of palace life and at age 16 he was married to Princess Yasodhara. They had a son named Rahula. After seeing a decrepit old man, an invalid, and an ascetic beggar, he learned of suffering and decided to embrace asceticism. Soon after wards, at age 29, Siddhartha left the palace and his family and went to a hermitage where he became monk Guatama, or, as he is still called, Sakyamuni (The ascetic of the Sakyas). One day, meditating under a sacred fig tee, he attained perfect illumination (Bodhi). He had become a Buddha. From there on he traveled and preached for 44 years what was to become one of the main religions of the world. He died at Kusinagara at age 80.
Buddha Golden Temple Wat Po
Happy Buddha – Often called the Happy Buddha, he is really Hotei, a monk of the Tíang Dynasty. He was known for carrying a sack of candy which he handed out to children in the street. Many Chinese Buddhist believe he was an incarnation of the Buddha Maitreya. Gautama Buddha was born in 563 b.c. in northeast India. The Buddha was the son of the King of the Sakyas. Suddhodana, who ruled at Kapilavastu, on the border of Nepal. His mother was Queen Maya. He was named Siddhartha. He lived amidst the pleasures of palace life and at age 16 he was married to Princess Yasodhara.
Terracotta Xian Warriors from Tomb and Horse – In 1975 a pit to the east of the tomb of Ch-in Shih-huang-ti was excavated. Discovered inside were six thousand life-size figures of men and horses, with their chariots, each individually fashioned. These terra-cotta clay warriors are unprecedented in number and size which makes them one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries.
Hinduism – This is a religion associated with India and Nepal and followers around the world. It is based on a pantheon of gods with hybrid animal human characteristics. Some of the most beloved are the elephant-headed Ganesh (remover of obstacles), Shiva (life force), Vishnu (preserver of universe), and Lakshmi (goddess of Luck).
Colossal Ganesh from Healing Temple, Thailand.
We offer a large assortment of Asian statues which celebrate the deities and sacred characters in Asian, Southeast Asian and Hindu religions. These figurines can be placed in your home altar, meditation room or zen sanctuary garden for appreciating where you pass your meditative time.
