The cult of Guanyin was brought to Taiwan by Han Chinese settlers who brought their religious beliefs with them to their new home. During the Ming and Qing dynasties Buddhism was promoted by the authorities and civic organizations, and as more immigrants settled in Taiwan, temples dedicated to Guanyin began to appear all across the island. Early images of Guanyin produced in Taiwan can be classified into two main types: those that were brought to Taiwan from the southeast coast of China by Buddhist clergy and lay people, and which were necessarily small in size; and those which were produced in Taiwan by local craftsmen and which were naturally fashioned after the style which remained prominent in southeastern China from the Song Dynasty onwards.