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Polychromed Wood 95 x 65 inches (241.3 cm) Chinese Shanxi Province Liao Dynasty (A.D. 907-1125)

Guanyin and Gender. Polychromed Wood 95 x 65 inches (241.3 cm) Chinese Shanxi Province Liao Dynasty (A.D. 907-1125). Guanyin, Late Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Feminization of Guanyin and Gender Relations.

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Polychromed Wood 95 x 65 inches (241.3 cm) Chinese Shanxi Province Liao Dynasty (A.D. 907-1125)

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  1. Guanyin and Gender Polychromed Wood95 x 65 inches (241.3 cm) Chinese Shanxi ProvinceLiao Dynasty(A.D. 907-1125)

  2. Guanyin, Late Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127)

  3. Feminization of Guanyin and Gender Relations • Guanyin’s feminization in the context of traditional Chinese culture and of gender relations Why must Guanyin have become a goddess anyway?

  4. Chinese image of male/female differences • Chinese conceptualization of the quality of compassion: it is a female/maternal virtue • Chinese cultural tradition defines: • intellect and reason as masculine traits, • whereas emotion and feeling as feminine ones

  5. In a Chinese family: • father is regarded as strict, mother compassionate (Yanfu cimu) • Wisdom is an attribute of father; compassion, that of mother Bodhisattva, large wood sculpture, Song Dynasty

  6. Guanyin by a modern painter

  7. Indian view: • Mother, symbol of wisdom • Father, love • Wisdom is a dominant feminine quality • Compassion, masculine

  8. Guanyin Must be Feminine: other rationales Absence of antecedents of female deities Nu Wa, Queen Mother of the West were short-lived Male gods dominated the pantheon of Chinese folk religions A female Guanyin is the mother figure par excellence; she loves indiscriminatingly

  9. Guanyin’s Image Multiplied • Guanyin assumed different forms, they authenticated and reinforced one another • The Fish-basket Guanyin, • Guanyin of the South Sea • White-robed Guanyin • Women (artists) contributed to Guanyin’s feminization, • Guanyin and the veneration of Her, somehow, did/could not empower women

  10. Appropriations of Guanyin • Sectarian religions in late imperial China appropriated Guanyin through these: • production of new apocryphal scriptures, such as The True Scripture of Guanyin’s Original Vow of Universal Salvation • Creation of new identity of Guanyin • Prominent sectarian religions: • Eternal Life Teaching, or Chang-sheng jiao (18th c., referred to Guanyin as Venerable/Old Mother)

  11. The Principle Teaching, or Li jiao (18th C) • Guanyin is the supreme deity, referred to as Ancient Buddha of the Holy Teaching • The Way of Pervading Unity, or Yiguan Dao (19th c) • Venerate Eternal Mother/the Unborn Venerable Mother • Guanyin is among five major deities

  12. The Way of the Former Heaven, or Xiantian Dao (17th C) • Scripture: The True Scripture of Guanyin’s Original Vow of Universal Salvation) • Guanyin is referred to as Venerable/Old Mother Guanyin

  13. Guanyin as a “Mother Goddess” • Other Sectarian Religions • The Non-Action Teaching, or Lo jiao • The Return to the Origin Teaching, or Huan-yuan jiao • The Yellow Heaven Teaching, or Huang-tian jiao • The Dragon Heaven Teaching, or Long-tian jiao • The Western Great Vehicle Teaching, or Xi Dasheng jiao • Guanyin is the supreme deity in these religions which are fused with strong Taoist elements • Now called venerable/eternal mother

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