Yang Yuxuan

CHINA, Fujian, Zhangpu; Qing dynasty

Yang Yuxuan, whose original name was Ji, was a sculptor who specialized in sculpting figures, animals, and vessels. His works made from Shoushan stone were renowned around Fujian. According to Records of Zhangpu County, “Yang can make an exquisite Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva from an inch-long amber, detailing even the finest hairs,” referencing the sophistication of his skill.
Among Yang’s works that remain is a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva made from Tianhuang stone. This sculpture utilized the natural form of the stone to produce a graceful and organic figure. In the incisions of the cloth folds, he employed a deep-cut beveled knifing method, and the back of the statue is engraved with his name. The statue is currently kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing.