Large Qing Dynasty Kwan Kong / Guan Gong Taosit / Buddhist Hand Carved Wood

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Large Qing Dynasty Kwan Kong / Guan Gong Taosit / Buddhist Hand Carved Wood Late 19 th cStatue's MeasurementHeight 10 ½" inches (26.7 cm)Base Width 6" inches (15.2 cm)Base Depth 6" inches (15.2 cm)This is a Quing Dynasty hand carved solid wood statue of Kwan Kong (Guan Gong) who is a Taoist God of war also as their God of Chivalry and Prosperity. He is also regarded as the Guardian of the Brave, Loyal and Righteous . He is sitting on a tiger skin draped throne which has a styliyized gold dragon at the end of each arm, the throne is painted red. The painting and treatment of the tiger skin is unique. He is poised on his chair with beard in his left hand and his right resting on the arm of the chair. Although contemplative in posture his expression remains stern as it should be. This statue of Guan Ti is rare and is in excellent condition his features are so impressive. He is hard carved from a single block of wood. He is covered with intricate dragons, he is the only Taoist Deity and Buddhist Bodhisattva that has the image of nine dragons on his clothes. Every aspect of the figure has been addressed if it is in view or not. He has some minor paint loss along the base and what looks like touched up spots also at the base. He is in excellent condition, no cracks or checks in the wood. His hand carved features are very realistic with his black flowing hair for beard and whiskers. This Taoist statue is part of our large collection and after a lifetime of collecting. The iconography is superb the execution traditional and well done. The statue stands 10 ½" tall and the base is 6" x 6", perfect desk size. These wood carvings are not a mass produced metal or polymer casting this is executed by skilled wood carvers and craftsmen. This is a one of a kind manifestation of the deity that bridged Taoism and Buddhism . Kuan Kong is also believed to be the guardian of all business owners, politicians and leaders in general. It is said if you have leadership responsibilities, you should have a Kuan Kong on your desk or at your workplace in order for it to guide and protect you from bad forces. Please see all the photos for the composition and condition of this rare antique Taoist / Buddhist deity. Email with any questions or if you require any additional photographs.I have been collecting artifacts for over a lifetime and I have been a member of the EBay community since 1998 - Please .· Buyer info:· Packaging and shipping is done with care and completed in an expedient manner, shipping days are Tuesday and Thursday for gas conservation. If you have a special request we will do our best to adjust the schedule to accommodate your schedule.· It is my intention to be as clear and accurate as possible. In the event I make an error, I will always do my best to remedy the situation.· Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Please read the item description and submit any questions you might have for clarification of the item for sale prior to bidding. I can provide additional photos at the buyers request to assist you in your purchase.· Buyer should contact me within 3 days of auction ending, this assists in the expedient shipping.· Payment must be received within 5 days of auction ending.· Coffee cup is for scale purposes only.Origin:The spelling of different deities can vary in the English language because the translation is phonetic and the pronunciation and subsequent spelling varies.Kuan Kung: Taoism & BuddhismKuan Kung is revered as Saintly Emperor Guan and a leading subduer of demons in Taoism. Taoist worship of Kuan Kung began during the Song Dynasty. Legend has it that during the second decade of the 12th century, the saltwater lake in the present day Xiezhou County gradually ceased to yield salt. Emperor Huizong then summoned Celestial Master Zhang Jixian, thirtieth descendent of Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, to investigate the cause. The emperor was told that the disruption was the work of Chi You, a deity of war. The Master then recruited the help of Kuan Kung, who did battle with Chi You over the lake and triumphed, whereupon the lake resumed salt production. Emperor Huizong then bestowed upon Kuan Kung the title of Immortal of Chongning, formally introducing the latter as a deity into Taoism.In early Ming Dynasty, the forty-second Celestial Master Zhang Zhengchang recorded the incident in his book Lineage of the Han Celestial Masters, the first Taoist classic to affirm the legend. Today Taoism practices are predominant in Kuan Kung worship. Many temples dedicated to Kuan Kung, including the Emperor Guan Temple in Xiezhou County, show heavy Taoist influence. Every year, on the thirteenth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar (legendary birthday of Kuan Kung), a street parade in the honor of Emperor Guan would also be held.In Chinese Buddhism, Kuan Kung is honored as a bodhisattva and protector of the Dharma. He is called Sangharama Bodhisattva. Sangharama in Sanskrit means "temple", therefore Kuan Kung is also the guardian of the temple. His statue is usually located on the far left of the main shrine, opposite his counterpart, Skanda Bodhisattva.According to the Buddhist account, in 592, Kuan Kung manifested himself one night before the Tripitaka Master Zhiyi, founder of the Tientai school of Buddhism, with a retinue of spiritual beings. Zhiyi was then in deep meditation on Yuquan Hill when he was distracted by Kuan Kung's presence. After receiving Buddhist teachings from the master, Kuan Kung acquired the Five Precepts. Henceforth he became the guardian of temples and the Dharma. Legends also claim that Kuan Kung assisted Zhiyi in the construction of the Yuquan Temple, which still stands today.In the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Luo Guanzhong wrote that Kuan Kung manifested himself to a monk named Pujing on Yuquan Hill on the night of his death. From Pujing Kuan Kung sought the Buddhist teachings and entered the faith. While this being a modification of the "true" account, Pujing did exist in history. The location at which Pujing built a grass hut for himself was where the Yuquan Temple was later built on.Alternative Names:Guan Yu, Kuan Yu, Kwan Ti, Guan Gong, Kuan Kung, Guan Gung, Kwan Kong read more

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