Guardian figure, 1368-1644

Details

Other Title: Guardian figure of Wei Tuo
Place where the work was made: China
Period: Ming dynasty 1368 - 1644 → China
Date: 1368-1644
Media category: Sculpture
Materials used: bronze, gold; gilding
Dimensions: 140.0 x 60.5 x 50.0 cm
Signature & date: Not signed. Not dated.
Credit: Gift of Captain Francis Hixson 1905
Location: South Building, ground level, Asian Lantern galleries
Accession number: 1309
Copyright: Reproduction requests
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About

Dressed in the elaborate armour worn by Chinese military heroes during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), this sculpture depicts a guardian of the Buddhist faith and teachings. His fearsome appearance serves to protect what is good by frightening away evil. His lion headdress symbolises ferocity and determination to defend Buddhism, while the hand-over-fist gesture is one of greeting.

The sculpture would likely have been one of 24 protective deities in the hall of a temple or monastery. It is said to have been taken from the ruins of the Palace of Ten Thousand Years near Beijing in late 1900 or early 1901 by members of the New South Wales Naval Contingent, who were there to support British troops during the Boxer Uprising (1899– 1901). The exact location from which the sculpture was taken is not known.

If you know more about the provenance of this sculpture, or other works in the Art Gallery’s collection, please share your knowledge with us: provenance@ag.nsw.gov.au

Places

Where the work was made

China

Exhibition history

Shown in 4 exhibitions

Collection display, Asian Lantern, Lower level 1, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 17 Dec 1991–04 Mar 2002
Collection display, Asian Lantern, Lower level 1, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 03 Nov 2003–25 May 2011
Collection display, Asian Lantern, Lower level 1, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 31 May 2011–29 Apr 2014
Correspondence, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 10 Sep 2022–2024

Bibliography

Referenced in 9 publications

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of New South Wales picturebook, Sydney, 1972, 137 (colour illus.).
Edmund Capon AM, OBE and Jan Meek (Editors), Portrait of a Gallery, Sydney, 1984, 104 (colour illus.). Image of Guardian figure on display
Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, China 'Buddhist Art', Sydney, 2003, 99 (colour illus.).
Jackie Menzies, AGNSW Collections, 'Asian Art - India, South-East Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan', pg. 173-228, Sydney, 1994, 204 (colour illus.).
Jacqueline Menzies, Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook, 'Asian', pg. 72-93, Sydney, 1988, 73, 74.
John Saxby (Editor), Look, Sydney, Sep 2015.
Jill Sykes, Look, 'Setting music in context', pg. 16-17, Sydney, Feb 2006, 16 (colour illus.).
W.G.P.Liu, Art Gallery of New South Wales Quarterly, 'A Chinese temple guardian', pg. 7-8, Sydney, Oct 1959, 7, 8 (illus.).
LIU Yang, Orientations, 'The Discovery of Mass: A Footnote to the Stylistic and Iconographic Innovation in Chinese Buddhist Sculpture', pg. 88-95, Hong Kong, Sep 2000, 95 (colour illus.). fig.7

Provenance

possibly Palace of Ten Thousand Years (near Peking/ Beijing), pre Oct 1900, Beijing/China, exported from China in 1900 by New South Wales Naval Contingent. Arrived in Sydney on the China Navigation Company Steamer SS Chingtu, 25 April 1901.

Capt. Francis Hixson, 1901-28 Apr 1905, Double Bay/Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 1905.