Camphor Wood Guan Yin

Description

Old Guan Yin hand carved from camphor wood,originally from the temple in Taiwan. A very refine and smooth skilled carving from the old days. Very serene appearance sitting atop a cloud base. With a bird sitting on the tree on the right side behind her. Guan Yin is the equivalent term for Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. She is also the Buddhist bodhisattva associated with compassion in the East Asian world. Kindly noted that both of her hands are broken as shown in the pictures. Kindly check photographs for further details. One of a kind.

Centuries ago, the unsanctioned cutting of a camphor tree(Cinnamomum camphora) in China or Formosa (Taiwan) was punishable by death. Camphor native to those countries as well as to Japan, was reserved for sacred ceremonial items, such as the Chinese mu-yu drum( Mokugyo) used in temples.

Camphor wood has a long history involving sculpture carving in Taiwan.
Due to the natural pest-resistant properties of camphor wood made it desirable for creating utensils and figures. Camphor trees have a long history and cultural significance in Taiwan. Nowadays, Taiwanese government has implemented stricter laws and a DNA database for protected tree species to deter illegal logging, which has its impacted the wood carving industry.

Noted: In 1976, this exploitation ceased, as the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) was enacted to counter damage to national ecosystems on forest lands. Since then, Taiwan’s efforts have focused on both preserving and harvesting/reforesting biological diversity. In 2021, the Taiwanese government established a DNA database for Taiwan cypress and cedar trees to help protect the nation’s forests and to prevent illegal poaching after a four-year collaboration between the MJIB (Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau) and the Forestry Bureau and Academia Sinica’s Biodiversity Research Center. Since 2017, they have been collecting over 600 tree samples which are classified as protected species under the Forestry Act. Almost like a fingerprint, the DNA database keeps track of these trees and gives them an identification card.
https://hir.harvard.edu/theft-in-our-forests-examining-taiwans-silent-war/

Dimensions: 6.25″ x 7.75″ x 15.5″

Old piece. Sell in used, pre-owned condition. Vintage and antique items by nature have variable amounts of wear, imperfections, signs of use, age and time. Perfectly imperfect. Condition shown as in pictures. Kindly contact us if you need more info. or detail pictures.