Vietnam White Marble Kuan Yin Seated at Royal Ease on a Rock, 36in

Kuan Yin at royal ease

This is Kuan Yin in one of her best-loved Chinese forms: seated at royal ease on a rock by the water, the pose sometimes called the Water-Moon Guanyin. Her right knee is drawn up and her right arm rests loosely across it, while the left leg folds and lowers over the edge of the rock. Nothing about the posture is formal or stiff. She is shown at rest, unhurried, looking down with a calm, half-closed gaze, the way she is described sitting on her island and watching the moon on the water. At 36 inches she is a substantial presence, large enough to anchor a corner of a room or a garden niche.

How she is shown

Kuan Yin, or Guanyin, is the bodhisattva of compassion, the East Asian form of Avalokiteshvara, and she is recognised here by the details Chinese carvers have used for centuries. A hooded veil falls over her head and shoulders, over layered robes that drape across the chest and pool around the knees. Her crown carries a small seated Amitabha Buddha at the front, the sign of the Buddha she serves. Strands of beads hang at her neck, a string of prayer beads runs through her lowered left hand, and a small vase of pure water stands on the rock beside her. The water vase is her own attribute: it holds the nectar of compassion that she pours out for anyone who calls on her.

Carved in Vietnam white marble

The figure is carved from Vietnam white marble, a bright, fine-grained stone with a clean, slightly cool white, closer to porcelain than to the warm cream of Makrana. That cool white suits Kuan Yin, who is so often pictured in white robes. The rock she sits on is left with a rough, natural face so it reads as stone against the smooth drapery, and the whole piece rises from a carved double-lotus base. The figure and robes are given a soft satin polish rather than a mirror shine, so the folds of the veil catch the light gently and the carving stays easy to read from across the room.

Where she belongs

Royal-ease Kuan Yin figures are made for quiet places. She suits a reading nook or a living room corner where she can be seen without demanding attention, a meditation room where her relaxed posture sets the tone for sitting, or a sheltered garden spot near water or ferns. Many people keep her near the entrance of the home as a guardian of kindness and calm. Place her so her face sits a little below eye level, which lets her downward gaze meet the person looking at her.

Size and care

The statue stands 36 inches tall including the lotus base, about 24 inches wide and 18 inches deep, and weighs around 120 kg, so plan for a level floor or a strong, low plinth. Each piece is made to order in Jaipur, and the size, the stone and the details of the robes can be adjusted on request. For a garden, choose a covered spot out of standing water. Clean her with a soft dry cloth or a lightly damp one; avoid acidic cleaners, which dull marble.