A Dehua porcelain figure with white glaze, Fujian province, China, 1800 to 1900, showing Damo (Bodhidharma), founder of Chan Buddhism, standing on water waves in his legendary crossing of the Yangtze River, wearing a shroud and carrying a shoe. Held today by the Victoria and Albert Museum under museum number C.545-1910, East Asia Collection, bequeathed by George Salting.
Facts
Subject Matter
Devotional FunctionDehua, blanc de chine, porcelain figures of Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze on a reed were among the most popular subjects produced at the Fujian kilns from the Ming dynasty onward, valued in both religious and secular contexts as auspicious objects tied to Chan patriarchal authority, and exported to Japan and Europe as readily as sold within China. 1 Physical Form
MediumDehua porcelain figure with white glaze, China, 1800 to 1900, Victoria and Albert Museum C.545-1910 1 Medium (class) Connections
Belongs to Tradition
Source Bodhidharma Crossing the Yangtze River, museum number C.545-1910 (Victoria and Albert Museum)
Depicts
The V&A's own title and physical description name Bodhidharma directly, standing on water waves in his legendary crossing of the Yangtze River, a Dehua porcelain figure long displayed on household and temple altars in China.
Source Bodhidharma Crossing the Yangtze River, museum number C.545-1910 (Victoria and Albert Museum)
Originated In
China, Regions Source Victoria and Albert Museum Collections API: V&A object record O166082
Sources
1. Bodhidharma Crossing the Yangtze River, museum number C.545-1910 (Victoria and Albert Museum)
Victoria and Albert Museumcatalogue record, medium/object-type descriptionQuote, catalogue record, medium/object-type description
A Dehua porcelain figure with white glaze, Fujian province, China, 1800 to 1900, showing Damo (Bodhidharma), founder of Chan Buddhism, standing on water waves in his legendary crossing of the Yangtze River, wearing a shroud and carrying a shoe.
Victoria and Albert Museum Collections API: V&A object record O166082
Victoria and Albert Museum Collections APIOriginated In: China, placesOfOriginQuote, Originated In: China, placesOfOrigin
"text": "China"
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