Since ancient times the horse has symbolized vigor and prosperity. It is 7th among the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. According to chinahighlights.com “The Horse symbolizes Qian (referring to Yin, heaven or a male in the Eight Diagrams)…and …The Book of Changes records: Qian represents the Horse, therefore, the Horse not only represents heaven, a king, a father, and a well-educated man, but it also represents a man of honor in traditional Chinese culture.” The horse is also closely associated with Taoism. As noted by Dr. Thomas Ritter, the frequent presence of horses in Taoist images symbolizes man’s harmony with and the elegance of nature, “It may not appear immediately obvious, but [in] Lao Tsu’s Tao Te Ching…the dressage artist rides and trains in harmony with Nature [and is] at one with the Tao [and nature] which gives his horses and his work radiance and expressiveness.” Several images of Taoist Officials and the Queen Mother of the West in the VA collection are set astride ornate and vigorous horses. In Japanese culture they are revered creatures that embody grace, power and nobility.
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Cast iron hand-crafted kettles called “Tetsubin” in Japanese (literally iron pot”), have been produced for hundreds of years developed for use in the Japanese Tea Ceremony (chanoyu), loved teaware sought by tea aficionados. The iron content of these Japanese antiques altars the taste of boiled water, makes it richer, sweeter and has positive effects on…
The syncretic Queen Mother of the West is revered as one of the most significant of the female Taoist-deities with a large Buddhist and Popular Religion following. She was the first female deity represented in Chinese art. Her immeasurable powers include her complete control over life and creation as well as death and destruction. She…
Among the oldest Chinese female Taoist-deities, the Queen-Mother of the West Hsi Wang Mu is mentioned in 300 BCE in sacred texts as a goddess who “obtained the Tao.” A patron deity of women and a divine teacher associated with the cultivation of virtue and immortality, she controls the life, death, creation and destruction of…
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