Bonze Collection

Scene from the opera, Madame Butterfly, by Giacomo Puccini: Cio Cio Sans uncle, the Bonze, interrupts her marriage ceremony to Lieutenant Colonel F. B

Chinese Pig-Bonze
The Chinese bonze Tchou Pa- Kiai is the unhappy victim of an unfortunate mistake during reincarnation, forced to live this life half-pig, half-man

Bonze or Buddhist monk performing a vow to crawl on all fours with a saddle on his back
FLO4590120 Bonze or Buddhist monk performing a vow to crawl on all fours with a saddle on his back. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon

Tinh Xa Ngoc Chau Buddhist temple. The Life of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Buddha with disciples, teaching. The Buddha exhorted His first sixty Arahant disciples to go forth in different

Tinh Xa Ngoc Chau Buddhist temple. Buddhist monk. Chau Doc. Vietnam

The Worship of Ancestors in China (litho)
1606920 The Worship of Ancestors in China (litho) by Frenzeny, Paul (1840-1902); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Worship of Ancestors in China)

Bonze or Buddhist monk performing a vow to crawl on all fours with a saddle on his back. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Freschi after Antoine Cardon from Henri-Leonard-Jean-Baptiste

Bonze defies decapitation
Japanese Bonze (Buddhist priest/monk) defies decapitation miraculously Date: circa 1860

Bonzes praying
Bonzes are Buddhist priests, monks or teachers. Buddhist monks were often referred to by the term bonze in english literature before the mid 20th Century especially when referring to monks from East

Entrance to Pagoda, Marble Mountain, Vietnam (Annam)
Entrance to the Pagoda of the Marble Mountain, near Da Nang (then known as Tourane), Vietnam (then known as Annam). A priest (bonze) is descending the staircase. Date: 1922

Bonze (engraving)
3635610 Bonze (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bonze. Illustration for Les Races Humaines by Louis Figuier (Hachette, 1872)

A group of Chinese bonzes; engraved and printed by Gilot
CHT265542 A group of Chinese bonzes; engraved and printed by Gilot; 1896 (colour litho) by Chinese school, (19th century) by Chinese School (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Mongol Race, Japanese (coloured engraving)
3650048 Mongol Race, Japanese (coloured engraving) by Williams, J.L. (c.1815-77) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mongol Race, Japanese)

THE PIG BONZE
TCHOU PA-KIAI a bonze who is the victim of a mistake during reincarnation, forced to live this life half- pig, half-man Date: 1914

Regional music: Japanese gong and cymbals, c. 1870
Two Japanese bonzes or priests striking a gong and playing on cymbals, c.1870. Date: c. 1870

Surmont on the Bonze. E. Puttaert

Freedom of Worship during the period of Napoleons consulship, depicting Napoleon
XIR175951 Freedom of Worship during the period of Napoleons consulship, depicting Napoleon pointing towards the Supreme Being, 1799 (colour engraving) by French School

Bonze - Buddhist Religious Teacher
A Bonze (Buddhist religious teacher) from the Annamite region (and former kingdom) of central Vietnam on the South China Sea between Tonkin and Cochin China. Date: 1900

Surmont on the Bonze. E. Puttaert

Japan, Honshu island, Nara, bronze urn where worshippers light incense at the entrance to the Great Buddha Hall within the Todaiji Temple complex, a U.N. World Heritage Site

Japanese Types
Officer of the Taikoon in civil costume - mendicant bonze - superior bonze - military - women - soldier - man of the lower classes - fish market coolie - pilgrim

Praying for Rain
CHINA The Bonze Hoei-yuen prays to the Dragon King, successfully, for rain

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In the enchanting scene from Giacomo Puccini's opera, Madame Butterfly, the captivating presence of a bonze adds an air of mystique and spirituality. Dressed in traditional robes, this Chinese Pig-Bonze embodies the deep-rooted reverence for ancestors that is ingrained in Chinese culture. With solemnity and grace, he performs a vow to honor those who came before him. But it is not just in China where bonzes hold significant importance; their influence extends far beyond borders. Legends tell tales of bonzes defying decapitation, displaying unwavering devotion to their beliefs even in the face of death itself and can be found across Asia, fervently praying within sacred temples or meditating under ancient pagodas. The entrance to one such pagoda at Marble Mountain in Vietnam beckons visitors with its grandeur and spiritual energy. Engravings capture moments frozen in time - a group of Chinese bonzes united by faith and purpose; their unity evident as they stand together on a printed page created by Gilot's skilled hand. In times both joyous and sorrowful, bonzes play vital roles. During funeral ceremonies, they administer last rites with compassion and dignity while guiding souls into the realm beyond. The Mongol Race has also embraced Buddhism through history - Japanese people find solace within its teachings. Colored engravings depict this harmonious fusion between culture and religion as the pig-bonze takes center stage once again. From operatic stages to lithographs capturing cultural traditions, bonzes continue to captivate our imagination with their unwavering dedication to enlightenment and inner peace.