Browse Items (90 total)

Depicted on the rug is one of the supreme deities of Mongolian traditions known as Tengri. The name Tengri refers to the sky as Tengri is the supreme sky god of the old Xiongnu, Xianbei, Turkic, Bulgar, Mongolian, Hunnic and Altaic religions better…

The staff reads “May you advance on your Journeys peacefully.” This staff was acquired by Dr. Puffenberger in 1977 while on his travels around Asia. The while climbing Mt. Fuji at the 5th climbing station. Yoshidaguchi 5th Station is at the halfway…

A version of this scroll could not be found to use as a model to explain what this scroll depicted. The scroll was translated by Dr. Kenley of Elizabethtown College. From his translations and Dr. Long’s knowledge of Eastern traditions, the…

Kuanyin, also referred to as Guan Yin, is a Bodhisattva in Mahayana tradition who is generally associated with compassion and veneration. The legend of Kuanyin dates to the Song Dynasty between mid-7th- to-late 13th century. In this statue, Kuanyin…

Ardhanarishvara, or the “Lord Who is Half Women” in Sanskrit, is an androgynous statue of the Hindu deity composite of Shiva and his spouse Parvati (a half male/half female deity). The male half of the figure (Shiva) is adorned with traditional male…

Hotei, Budai, or “Fat Buddha” represents one of the widely represented figures of Mahayana Buddhism in China. This statue characterizes Hotei, in a typical way: described as a laughing, fat, and bald man in monk robes. The name Budai translates as…

Budai, also known as Hotei, Maitreya, and many other pseudonyms, is a Buddhist god known for his contentment and happiness. Budai is also known for his love of children. Budai is often depicted as what is known as the "laughing Buddha", typically…

The Tibetan prayer flags are a set of five colorful rectangular cloth strung together to resemble the original prayer flags used by the devas (the Hindu deities) against their adversaries. Each of the five rectangular cloth represents a unique symbol…

In the Sikh tradition, the comb or Khangra represents one of the five articles of faith in Sikhism. Collectively named Kakars, these religious objects are worn by both male and females, and it ties to the external identify to the Sikh rehni or “Sikh…

Rosary, or the Holy Rosary, is prayer beads made of string knots or beads. Typically, a rosary features a crucifix inscribed with the “O Lord” prayer and the Apostles’ Creed directly on the cross. It also features three beads inscribed with the…