Dehua-kiln, white-glazed porcelain statue of Guanyin with a basket of fish

Guanyin is depicted with a slight smile, wearing her naturally flowing hair in shell-shaped buns, with a crown of flowers on her head. A sash hangs gracefully over her chest, which is adorned with jewels. Wearing bracelets on her wrists, Guanyin holds a basket containing a carp fish in one hand, as she stands barefoot on a wave-shaped pedestal of lotus flowers.
The image of the bodhisattva Guanyin holding a basket of fish, or riding on a large fish to subdue monsters, originates from popular beliefs during China's Tang Dynasty. The poem Praise of Guanyin, written by Huang Tingjian during the Song Dynasty, says: "If you wish to truly see Guanyin, go to the golden sands where Mr. Ma's Wife resides." This particular artistic representation of Guanyin is closely related to this story.