W50xL150xH40mm, China
This is a pottery figurine of a bamboo shoot.
Bamboo shoot, the sprout of the bamboo plant, is a great delicacy. It is harvested when it has barely seen from the soil, when its texture is still fruit like before turning woody. If it is left a night too long the bamboo shoot will be too hard to be consumed. It is not comparable to another other vegetables and the tin version is nothing close to the real thing.
W100xD100xH70mm, Hong Kong (NOT FOR SALE)
For Spikey‘s birthday, a treat tray for my father for dishing out munchies.
He really does behave like this with his food…
Can’t believe that you are already 6 years old.
Happy Birthday Spikey!
You can follow Spike’s own on www.spiketang.wordpress.com
L80xW40xH110mm, China
A mythical character in the epic “Feng Shen Yan Yi” which described all the saintly figures, his name is Zhun Ti Dao Ren. Zhun Ti was said to have come from the West, the land of Buddhism, bringing with him the wisdom and teaching of the Buddha.
The carriage of Zhun Ti Dao Ren is the famous Wisdom Peacock, Mahamayuri, the son of the Phoenix.
L170xW90xH170mm, China
Lions, perhaps not being a native animal in China, were considered as mythical creatures, protector and even made to be carriage of Bodhisattva Manjusri.
Chinese lions are often portrayed playing the xiu qiu, symbolizing harmony and joy.
However, does lion really enjoy playing balls like a cat …
L580xW140xH360mm, L620xW150xH340mm, China
A pair or lions; the lion playing with the xiu qiu is a male and the other with the cub is a lioness.
These pair of wood carving is part of an architectural element, in fact it is part of the bracket that hold up the beam in traditional Chinese architecture. This highly decorative architectural / structural elements are found in the south, in larger building such as ancestral homes.
In the building the lions would have been view with their tails on the upper part and their heads at the bottom, as in the photo below.
W180xD80xH360mm, China
(in the order from left to right – Fu Sau, Lu)
In my generation and those before, the blessing trio figurine could be seen at the focal point of all homes.
The three are a combination of all good blessings,
Fu – good fortune,
Lu – prosperity,
Sau – longevity
The three were originally concept of the astrology, stars.
Fu Star – the planet Jupiter
Lu Star – Ursa Majoris
Shu Star – Canopus
In the Ming dynasty the Taoist, attributed the Stars to persons or saintly figures and the three are grouped together to symbolize the idea of a good life ever since. Perhaps life has become less harsh or simply the flats are much smaller, Fu Lu Sau figurines are seldom seen in homes.
W70D60H150mm, China
This a a figure of Ne Zha, perhaps the only child deity of China. His legend, however, is no bed time story.
Ne Zha was born in the Shang dynasty, son of general Li Jing, the miracle drama started the minute he arrived to this world. After being pregnant for three and a half years, his mother gave birth to a ball of flesh. General Li thought it was a demon and split the ball opened with his sword, there a boy jumped out of the opened ball. This boy was Ne Zha, he was already capable of walking and speaking and soon became a disciple of Tai Yi Zhen Ren. One day in May when he was seven, he took a bath by the sea and disturbed the dragon palace, the Dragon King send his coast guard to see what had happened. Ne Zha started and argument which turned into a fight and killed the guard, the Dragon Prince came and was also killed (I wont go into the detail of his injuries …) The dragon king was on his way to complain to Jade Emperor and got beaten up badly by Ne Zha. The news traveled to the Jade Emperor anyway and the entire family was sentenced to death, General Li and his wife was captured to be executed. Ne Zha turned himself in and said he is the one who made the mistake and should be the only one being punished, before his execution, he carved out his own flesh and bone to return to his parents. Moved by his act the Jade Emperor and let his parents lived.
Through a dream Ne Zha asked his mother to build him a temple so there is a place for his soul. Unlike Lady Li, his father is still upset at Ne Zha and punish his soul, when he found out about the temple he had it burnt. Ne Zha was angry, with the help of his master he rebuild his body with lotus roots and now armed with the iconic wind Fire Wheels and the Universe Ring. General Li was saved from Ne Zha by the powerful Rand Deng Dao Ren and the boy finally tamed.
In this figurine, he is holding the Universe Ring, the Fire Wheels are replaced by the typical dragon and tiger that the junk boat god rides.
Ne Zha was worshiped by the fisherman for his power to control even the dragon king who is in charge of the sea.
A chant for inviting Ne Zha to the temple.
W100xD70xH220mm, Thailand
Mudras are symbolic hand gestures, without the use of words it communicates the mind’s idea which is more powerful than language.
This is a Buddha statue in the Bhumisparsha Mudra posture, with his right hand resting on knee while reaching toward the earth and the left hand lies on the lap facing upward. This gesture is also known as the “earth witness” which is the most iconic image of Buddhism. This gesture symbolizes unshakability and steadfastness; the legend goes just before Siddhartha Gautama was enlightened to become the Buddha, demon Mara called upon his armies of monster to attacking, hoping to scare him away from his meditation under the bodhi tree. Siddhartha stayed unshaken and continued his mediation. The demon claimed the enlightenment for himself and called for his monsters to give witness to his superior spiritual achievements, Mara then asked Siddhartha if anyone could give witness for him. Siddhartha simply extended his hand to reach the ground and the earth responded and giving witness for him. Mara was defeated at his own challenge and vanished. The next day Siddhartha Gautama enlightened to become the Buddha himself. The serene expression of this figurine best captured this moment of enlightenment.
Here is a monk practicing more mudra gestures.
sitting W110xD140xH220mm, Hong Kong
Cute pairs of paper mache dolls inspired by the Ci Zhou kiln dolls.
They are the first in the series, stay tune for their transformation!
W35xD40xH130mm, Sumatra, Indonesia
This beautifully carved figurine belongs to the datu (shaman) of the Batak tribe in Sumatra. It is the finial of a tungkot malehat, a ritual staff used by the datu. The tungkot malehat consist of the kneeling figure as well as a rattan or bamboo staff (which unfortunately is missing). Traditionally, these magic staff is carved by the datu himself, they are powerful supernatural weapons for fighting off evils spirits and also has the power of healing. During the ceremony the datu would enter into a trance while holding the staff which would aid him in the ritual.
Mountain Folkcraft 