This
Ming Dynasty carving shows a pugnacious figure in confrontational seated posture,
head thrust forward with scowling eyes and teeth bared to repulse the enemies
of the Truth. The work is expressively carved from fruitwood, lacquered and gilded,
with much of the gold remaining, particularly on the back. On the bottom of the
figure is a notation in ink dated August 27th, 1878 which reads, “Taken from one
of the gates, Peking China, after hearing missionaries - the head of this god
was split to see what he was made of.” Thus the back portion of of the head is
missing, although this does not detract as the figure appears complete from most
angles. The body is thick with muscular arms and broad hands with spatulate fingertips
resting on the thighs.
Fierce
guardian figures are seen ubiquitously protecting altars and shrines. They are
meant to give pause--impure motives are not to be tolerated. Since the affliction
of the hunchback was viewed as the outcome of previous karma in which the person
had ridiculed the followers of Buddha, this protector emphasizes the retributive
power of the reformed. Thus the guardian, while displaying the result of , admonishes
us to commit no such lapse lest we be similarly reborn, reminding us that we are
bent down by a great burden of ignorance, greed and hatred, and require right
effort to become restored to our own true nature.