Hanuman in Ancient China

Hanuman in Ancient China.

Here is a carving of Hanuman from Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. Quanzhou was a major port city and home to many local and foreign merchant communities, including Hindus, during the Song and Yuan Dynasties. The carving is believed to have originally been part of the doorframe of a Yuan-period Hindu temple. However, it was discovered in 1947 inside of the Tonghuai gate, a structure built during the following Ming Dynasty. The fact that this piece was used as common building material may stem from the huge backlash against foreigners at the end of the Yuan. The foreign Mongol rulers of China were known for mistreating natives and favoring people of non-Chinese origin. I've previously read how Arabic tombstones from this time were found to be used as the foundation of a Ming-period wall. Therefore, the aforementioned Hindu temple was no doubt a casualty of the political turmoil preceding the Ming.

Hanuman is portrayed in profile with a crouching gracile form and a flower-like object upheld in his left hand. While one scholar suggests it's a trident (similar to his weapon from the Thai Ramakien), another posits it’s an herb, much like that found atop the mountain carried by the monkey god to help heal Rama and Lakshman. The piece is similar to gracile depictions of Hanuman from the Chola Dynas