Sculpture
of the Ming Dynasty returned to classical style, as seen in this upright and formalist
KuanYin, solid and symmetrical, dressed in court robes and ornamented with jewels
and embroidered garments, her hands held in the dharmachakra mudra; Turning the
Wheel of the Law. Much of the gilding has remained and illuminates the figure
with a golden cloak.
Chinese
style flowered during the Ming Dynasty after the first Ming emperor, Chu Yüan-chang,
gained control of a spreading rebellion and overthrew the Mongol Yuan dynasty,
thus unifying all of China proper and creating a period of stability and prosperity
with notable achievements in the arts.