This
rare shrine wood sculpture of the Savior of Hell, Bodhisattva
Ti-tsang (Japanese, Jizo; Sanskrit, Ksitigarbha) is likely
an effigy once used in ritual that invokes the dead.
The
gild wood statue of King of the Under-world is well carved,
the Ti-tsang image is strictly in observation with the Chinese
Buddhist tradition. This carving depicts Ti-tsang sits in
Dhyana Mudra above the swirling waves, which indicates crossing
of the under-world. The statue appearers that it has been
consecrated with a ritual blessing. There is a certain ritual
offering embedded in the hallowed space in the statue to which
a piece of paper is adhered to keep this substance in place.
Though the writing on the paper has since faded, nevertheless,
we assume that it was either the name of the deceased, or
a Taoist, Buddhist inscription of prayer.
It
is important to note that in the period preceding this carving,
Chinese tradition preferred burial for their dead, cremation
is strictly a practice for Taoist and Buddhist monks. The
carving likely functioned as the guide of the deceased, and
Ti-tsang is responsible for carrying both the body and the
soul to the under-world.
