Oriental Sculpture, Buddha Maitreya, in Gold-Plated Bronze

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Buddha Maitreya is the future Buddha to come. At present, Maitreya is a Bodhisattva who resides in the Tushita Heaven (The garden of joy) awaiting the auspicious moment, still in the distant future, to descend to earth and incarnate as the next, and last Buddha of this world with the purpose of bringing deliverence of all sentient beings. Buddha Maitreya was incorporated into all the major Buddhist traditions as a connecting link to the future, and he came to be identified as the deity linked to the future lives of the believer. This depiction of Buddha Maitreya is typical of the Tibetan - Nepali style of sculpture.
 
 

Oriental Sculpture, Royal Ease Kuan-Yin, in Bronze

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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City 11th-12th century

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 "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 enlightment or the jewel of three treasures

 
 

Oriental Sculpture, Smaller Seated Kuan-Yin, in Bronze

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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 "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 enlightment or the jewel of three treasures.
 
 

Oriental Statue, Seated Kuan-Yin Goddess, in Bronze

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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 "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 enlightment or the jewel of three treasures.
 
 
 

Oriental Statue, Kuan-Yin with Baby, in Bronze

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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 "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. Here, Kuan-Yin is depicted holding a baby which represents her role of Mother Goddess, mother of all humans and protector of children.
 
 

Oriental Statue, Kuan-Yin Standing on a Dragon, in Bronze

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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 ‘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. She is also often seen with dragons which are symbols of fertility, goodness, strength and authority. Dragons are also protectors of the faith, keeping watch over temples and even Heaven itself.