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Families placed cocoon jars with auspicious designs containing magical mixtures of mulberry leaves in tombs for departed’s souls to drink to transform in afterlife.
Exquisite carved Taoist Queen Mother of the West Jade Maiden attendant who carries a peach of immortality grown in the Queen’s Garden. These fruits blossom every 3,000 years and are served at her famous banquet in the Western Paradise.
This Queen Mother of the West, the highest ranking female Taoist deity was probably displayed as a pair along a statue of Guanyin, the most significant Buddhism female (Guanyin on a Lotus Pedestal (16206B) highlighting the importance and similarity of these revered female images Like the Guanyin, the Queen Mother’s delicately carved face has half closed eyes, serene composure mouth with a hint of a smile, which is more Buddhist than Taoist. Her headdress, centered by her iconic phoenix, rests under a hood extending to her shoulders and back. She wears a high collared three-layered Taoist robe, her hands covered by a ritual cloth.
Red lacquered Ancestral Memorial Tablet with raised gold-gilded characters signifying the ancestor’s prosperity and high status These tablets are considered the home in which the ancestor’s spirit reside. The characters identify the ancestor, his two wives, and designates the tablet as a location where spirits are invited to reside and receive offerings from their descendants. Topped with a scalloped oval panel with the Three Stars Gods Fu, Lu and Shou on celestial clouds.
Wonderfully aged and weathered stone Tudi Gong reflecting many traits of this beloved Earth God holding a tael for wealth and fortune. He sat happily on an outdoor shrine, and would be happy to sit in a garden to bring an aura of past times to a new family.
This large rare vibrant carving is the Taoist Deity of fertility Niangniang (“The Maiden Who Brings Children”) is often confused with Songzi Guanyin. Represented as an empress like figure, she glances serenely at 3 diminutive children, 2 males and a female extending their arms for protection. Stunning and peaceful, it is covered with gold highlights with intricate details.
Zhenwu, the True Warrior, Perfected Warrior or Northern Emperor was one of the most popular TaoistDeities in the Ming and Qing dynasties known as protector of the state and the imperial family. His feet here rest on a pedestal over a turtle with a lifted head and a snake curled around his shell. Among the many interpretations this represent beings over whom he presided including both celestial officers under his command, [and] former demons that were conquered by him. This is a fascinating carving symbolizes trusted strength. and power.
This elegant Chinese Republic Period porcelain is the Taoist immortal Han Xiangzi carrying his auspicious flute dressed in a beautiful blue robe with wide black borders, fine internal decorations and a decorative yellow floral undergarment. On the bottom is the kiln seal. As the patron saint of musicians and florists, it is a great gift for someone who enjoys these pursuits.
Influenced by Islam for centuries, Javanese theater in Indonesia is stylized, didactic and full of central characters said to be cultural and historic icons of morality. Mask drama theater (Topeng Wayang) in Java is dominated by the conservative central Javanese palace courts (kraton) of Surakarta, Solo and Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta) which have long supported mask makers,…
This “crown” called a “house of the head” was made to show gratitude for the power of heads that reflect Yoruba ideas of individuality and authority. Crowns like this were placed on altars for prayer and divination and were a symbol of a Yoruba deity. This headdress was in the San Francisco International Airport, “Crowning Achievements” exhibition April-August, 1994.
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