Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara of the Lion's Roar, or Simhanada Avalokiteshvara (Shi Hou Guanyin)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Avalokiteshvara (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) and Manjushri (the Bodhisattva of Wisdom) are identifiable by the fact that both, at times, appear atop lions. As such, they are said to assume the form of Simhanada, or the Lion's Roar, which is a reference to the intensity of the moment of enlightenment. Here, the lion's recumbent pose and the bodhisattva's sidewise posture suggest that this sculpture represents Simhanada Avalokiteshvara, although the headdress does not bear the image of a seated Buddha, which is Avalokiteshvara's standard identifying attribute. Depictions of Simhanada Avalokiteshvara developed in India around the eleventh or twelfth century and appeared in China during the twelfth.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art