On January 12, 1996, President Jiang Zemin received the Eleventh Panchen Erdeni at Zhongnanhai and the Panchen, in turn, presented President Jiang with gifts such as ceremonial scarfs (hadas). This bronze statue of white tara, among those gifts, is believed to be a manifestation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva according to Tibetan Buddhism. In fact, there are 21 taras, with white tara and green tara being especially well-known. (Damzin Tashi)