Kuan-yin of the Lotuses
Shao Mi (fl. 1593-1642), Ming Dynasty
Hanging scroll, ink on paper, 65.1 x 34.4 cm

          Shao Mi, a native of Soochow, was gifted at poetry, prose, calligraphy, and painting, in which he excelled in the subjects of landscapes and orchids-and-stones.

          On a pond with several lotus blossoms, Kuan-yin is shown here with a beard and moustache. The appearance of Kuan-yin differs greatly from that usually associated with the deity, resulting in the figure looking more like a scholar. In fact, if it was not for the artist's inscription, it would be somewhat difficult to identify this figure. Walking on the water, he wears a cloth cap and a long robe and carries a figure-topped cane (perhaps indicating that this is no ordinary person). The facial features and hand are rendered in outlines of light ink for an exceptionally fine and delicate look. Other areas, such as the drapery, are done more sketchily for a free and loose quality. The unconventional depiction in the form of a scholar provides yet another interpretation of the Kuan-yin deity.

          This work is dated to 1626.