Description
As a syncretic Taoist deity, the Queen Mother of the West has a huge cult following among Taoist, Buddhist and folk religion devotees revered for her powers to control life and death and to determine the life span of all living beings. Irvin calls her one of the Great Chinese Goddesses who are all imperially sanctioned and epitomize the feminine role of compassionate protectors who grant health, long life and safety to all regardless of their social position. Each has large temples, monasteries and small local shrines dedicated to them. Images like this carved by local a artisan depicted her as modest, humble and matronly with her iconic phoenix on her head to be placed on a home altar along with ancestral figures and other deities. This endearing antique-Chinese-woodcarving of one of the major female Taoist Deities is in very good condition with expected paint and lacquer losses and scratches, a minor chip and old stabilized wormholes consistent with age and use.The rear cavity with its original sealed bung indicates it was consecrated and still contains consecration script and other items placed there by a Taoist priest. She is worshipped today in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and many overseas Chinese communities, and on her birthday, Taoists, especially women, perform rituals in temples and pray to her to grant them and their family good health and longevity. This carving is part of the VA Collection of Deities-and-Legends
Click here for the Blog Consecrating Wooden Images to Imbue Them with A Life Force
Click here for the Blog The Queen Mother of the West Xiwangmu: Taoism’s Iconic Female Sovereign of Immortals
Source:
Lee Irwin, “Divinity and Salvation: The Great Goddesses of China,” in Asian Folklore Studies, Indiana University, Vol. 49, 1990, pp 53-68.