Avalokiteshvara, Dali Kingdom (Yunnan province, China), around 10th century, gilded bronze —
The Buddhist religion evolved over the decades accumulating a large pantheon of deities and increasingly elaborate rituals. Between the 10th and 13th centuries, the Dali Kingdom in the present-day Yunnan province became a center for tantric Buddhism, an esoteric branch of the religion. It is clear that by the time it arrived here, the Buddhist faith had journeyed far from its simple roots.
This is a rare form of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of Compassion. He wears an ornate headdress laden with several Buddhas and has 34 arms clutching various symbols.
Unlike religions that used force to convert people, Buddhism coexisted harmoniously with the beliefs of various countries.
"Buddhism assimilated to such an extent that it assumed the role of protector of the local cultures, rather than destroyer," says Dr. Guang Xing. "As a result, Buddhism gradually became part of the local tradition so much that one can never separate them."