Kuan Yin and Guan Yu

These two figurines are so out-of-place in this backstreet corner, more so being beside some street cleaning tools. I took this photo and later found out they have been there for a while. They are Kuan Yin (the white one), a buddhist goddess of mercy; and Guan Yu, a historic warrior turned folklore god representing righteousness and loyalty. A really interesting thing about Guan Yu is that he is worshipped by both triads gangsters and the police.
We don’t find them side by side usually and of course not in such “unholy” location. Really weird!
Links: wiki pages on Kuan Yin and Guan Yu

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Comments (11)

  1. Kate wrote:

    Ah, but perhaps they are right where they should be, where they will do the most good for all passers-by!

    August 15th, 2006, at 7:37 pm #
  2. Seesaw wrote:

    Colourful and very nice photo!

    August 16th, 2006, at 3:32 am #
  3. Invader Stu wrote:

    It’s interesting that no one has removed them if they have been there for so long

    August 16th, 2006, at 4:12 am #
  4. LfC wrote:

    Taken in Man Mo Temple last week:

    http://voyage.typepad.com/china/2006/08/man_mo_temple_h.html

    August 16th, 2006, at 11:05 am #
  5. Nancee wrote:

    Life is strange - how nice you were able to capture some of the mystery. Lovely picture and story.

    August 16th, 2006, at 12:07 pm #
  6. santy wrote:

    an attempt of peace perhaps? anyway, nice picture as usual! :)

    August 16th, 2006, at 1:42 pm #
  7. anne wrote:

    Must have been thrown out by the previous owner then someone found it and placed it there…

    August 16th, 2006, at 4:26 pm #
  8. Lisi wrote:

    thanks for the footprints, I guess the mystery will not be solved unless I go there and talk to some of the street cleaners????

    August 17th, 2006, at 2:28 am #
  9. myth_reality wrote:

    I’ve just realized why this white figure looks so familiar for me… There is a very similiar figure at my parents’ house. I saw it all my childhood and only now I have a chance to unveil what it was. Lisi, thank you for the nice photo and links ;-)

    August 17th, 2006, at 6:03 am #
  10. Kala wrote:

    now that was a really kewl commentary on chinese figurines - Kuan Yin Ive heard of before, Guan Yu i have not heard of but Ive seen the statue - I guess now I know - the triads gangsters sounds like something from a Jet Li movie! I have a photo request - canm you take a photo of jet Li in a Guan Yu pose? I hope this is not too much to ask =)

    August 20th, 2006, at 6:21 pm #
  11. rudygiron wrote:

    Lisi: Thanks for the background information. God knows where you go to get this sort of pictures. You should be careful though, you’ll never know who is watching you.

    August 23rd, 2006, at 5:00 am #