Shuanglin Temple Bodhisattva Hall: Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

CHINA, Shanxi, Jinzhong; Ming dynasty

This Avalokitesvara has 26 arms and is seated in the half lotus position on a throne entwined with dragons. Brahma and Sakra stand on either side dressed in Chinese clothing. Four hundred smaller Bodhisattva statues embellish the walls in the background.
Avalokitesvara wears an intricate headdress and pieces of jewelry, including armlets and bracelets on all 26 arms. A variety of stoles hang from the shoulders and down the body. The figure wears a red skirt that accords with the general color scheme of red and green. The length of the arms has been exaggerated to accommodate them visually. Two arms are bent across the body with the right hand in vitarka (teaching) mudra, while the rest are extended and hold Dharma attributes or form other mudras.