S C U L P T U R E O F C H I N A
Monks from India brought Buddhism to Han dynasty China in the 1st century CE, via the silk road. Buddhist painting and sculpture began to flourish there in the 4th century CE.
In the Sung dynasty, 13th Century CE, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, also known as Chenrezig in Tibetan, began to slowly change and become visually softer and more androgynous due to his attributes of compassion and mercy. This change is visible in both the Chinese painting and sculpture of the period, and we can see over time Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara becoming very feminine, with just a wisp of a mustache. His name in Chinese is Kwan Yin, and he is transformed into the goddess.
