Guanyin Statue with 11 Faces
Period :Tang Dynasty
Unearthed Place: Dahai Temple Site in Xingyang
时代：唐代
出土地点：荥阳大海寺遗址
The statue remains 171 cm-high with exquisite carving skills. The clothing texture of the statue looks nice, and the position of the six-arms is accurate and harmonious.
石造像残高171厘米，雕造技艺精湛，衣纹富有质感，六臂形位准确，和谐统一。
On the hair of the Guanyin Statue, 8 faces of Buddha were carved, with the addition of another two faces on each side of the principle face, 11 faces in total.
十一面观音指的是发髻上刻有八尊菩萨面相，主相两侧又各有一菩萨相，总计十一面相。
These 11 faces are arranged in five layers. 9 faces of the guanyin means the handle of the three worlds of existence: the Sensuous World, the Fine Material World, and the Immaterial World, which together comprise the entire universe of sentient existence. The tenth face is the laughing face, indicating that the cause of enlightenment needs great majesty and great will to be impeccable and successful. The top face means merit and virtue.
十一面观音，共十一张面孔，分五层排列。一面，化恶有情;二面慈面，化善有情;三面寂静面，化导出世净业。这三面教化三界便有九面。第十面为暴笑面，表示教化事业需要有极大威严和极大意志方能无懈而有成就。最上一面为佛地，功德圆满。
It is recorded that when Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang Dynasty, was the governor of Zhengzhou in Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin had suffered from eye disease and prayed for good fortune in the temple.
史载唐高祖李渊任隋郑州刺史时，李世民曾患眼疾，祈福于寺，后病患即除，于是造石像供奉于此。（文图来源：河南博物院）
