Lady of Mercy (Picture)

by TheOriginalFive

The spindle that the Lady carries has the water of life and knowledge wound around it. Why a spindle in particular? Perhaps it's a quirk of the New World painters.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

This picture depicts the bodhisatva Guanyin, who is said to be all-encompassingly compassionate. She is a patron of healers, children, and wanderers. She is depicted as a serene woman wearing white robes, and a white veil covering her hair.

In particular, this image has Guanyin standing atop a pink lotus, holding in her right hand a spindle with streams of water wound around it. Only New World depictions of Guanyin show her carrying a spindle, this icon is not usually explained, but it is theorized that tailors who revered her believe that she should be holding one of their tools.

Adding to the implication that this particular depiction was sponsored by tailors, this painting is made solely of threads sewn in elaborate patterns.

It is hung up in Chinese homes which don't use religious statues, and in workplaces that are philanthropic in nature such as Feather Mountain.

Manufacturing process

The first time around, an artist produces the sketch to be used for the first template of the picture. This can take up to a month.

To mass-produce this painting after the first template is complete, a copy of the sketch is placed in an artisan sewing machine, which is loaded with thread to sew stitches on bolts of canvas.

Touchups are done in the form of trimming leftover threads and tying loose ends.

Significance

A religious symbol of Guanyin.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Current Location

New Luoyang

Rarity

Factory-produced replicas are common

Dimensions

20 x 50 cm

Raw materials & Components

Canvas
Wood frame
Metal hanging hooks
Threads

Tools

An easel and embroidery set is needed to make the first template. A sewing machine and loom hybrid is used to produce further copies.