Immortal

The immortals of the Taoist pantheon are abstract and are identified as True Ones and Heavenly Worthies and some are Shen-shiens, an Immortal who has left this world and lives in the land of the blessed. Ordinary beings may become Immortals with very human qualities and foibles. In carvings they are portrayed sitting or standing in a relaxed position, wearing loose-fitting robes of varying hues. When these statues are taken out of context they are very difficult to identify so they must be described in generic terms as a Taoist Immortal, Taoist Official or Taoist Priest. As Terese Tse Bartholomew writes, “Any man or woman appearing in a landscape with pine trees, cranes, deer, and the fungus of immortality] may be considered immortal” (Terese Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2006p. 194)

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  • SOLD Song Dynasty Tile of Immortal with Firecracker, China #5515

    SOLD Song Dynasty Tile of Immortal with Firecracker, China #5515

    $325.00
    H: 7” W: 5” D: 2.75” | FREE SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S.

    This Song earthenware tile depicts the legendary scholar, poet and alchemist Taoist deity Lu Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals, who sought to discover the elixir of immortality and used charms still used in Chinese homes to prevent illness and ward off evil. He and his fly whisk are auspicious symbols of longevity and a wish for immortality.  Firecrackers, are traditionally used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, to bring in wishes for a safe and prosperous year, scare away evil and provide pleasure for the ancestors’ spirit.

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