Sculpture of Guanyin (1st century AD)

Guanyin is the goddess of compassion and love in Chinese Buddhism, who had deferred her admission into nirvana until all beings have attained enlightenment. This stunning polychrome illustration was created at the beginning of the first century AD, when the male god initially started to transform into a goddess. Guanyin was typically depicted with a moustache and male characteristics before the Song dynasty (960–1279), but when the sculpture was carved, the moustache vanished and feminine attributes such as a chignon were developed. While the figure still carries a masculine posture, the folds around the neck articulate the transition along with an androgynous form of traditional Chinese clothing.