He Chaozong

CHINA, Fujian, Ningde; Ming dynasty

Born in Gutian county of Ningde, He Chaozong was also known as Helai or He Laiguan. He was a monk and ceramic artist who began his career by creating clay statues for temples. Later renowned as a sage of porcelain making, he was reputed for his Buddhist and Daoist statues, particularly for that of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats. His style combined the techniques of traditional clay molding, woodcarving, and stone carving. He was genius in capturing the distinct characteristics and emotional expressions of the individuals he depicted. His signature drapery folds, which appear as if drifting in the breeze, imbue his creations with a sense of livelihood.
His works include various representations of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, such as Avalokitesvara Sitting on a Rock, Avalokitesvara Holding a Fish Basket, Avalokitesvara Riding a Lion, and Avalokitesvara Crossing the Sea. Most of his surviving works were made in Dehua. Today, a white porcelain Statuette of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is kept at the Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing; Statuette of Bodhidharma kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing, while Avalokitesvara Crossing the Sea is kept at Quanzhou Maritime Museum in Fujian.