Beautiful Budah Statue

A wooden statue carved from a single piece of wood, and painted with white, red and blue colors. Guanyin originally was a male bodhisattva named Avalokitesvara in India, but when introduced to China, which early on had powerful cults of female deities, it became the Goddess of Mercy. She sits in the maharajalila or at ease pose on the lotus throne, the symbol of purity since the lotus is white flower arising out of mud, which represents the impurities of this world. Amida Buddha is represented on her crown. She is the protector of all who are in distress, especially those at sea, which probably explains the fish underneath her throne.