Medieval Buddhist of the Day

[Twitter 7/12/19] Medieval Buddhist of the Day: Yang Shuangjin 楊雙進 of Quyang County in Hebei. He dedicated a white marble Guanyin in 547, explaining: 晉州戍身患願得歸家造觀音像一區: “While guarding the frontiers of Jinzhou, I fell ill; in hopes of being [safely] returned to my family I commissioned an image of Guanyin.”

It’s not unusual for a donor to dedicate an image in hopes of being healed from an illness, or in thanks for having been so healed. But this specific wish, to be returned to health and to his home, is poignant. But since his image was found in the famous Quyang cache, rather than on the frontiers of Jinzhou, I’m betting he found his way home.