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Subject:What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: Pete Tue, Apr 14, 2015 IP: 66.177.168.129 Can anyone tell me the significance of this Asian illustration. It is drawn on very thin rice like paper and appears to be hand colored. It has a whimsical feel to it with the bat in the top left corner next to the writing. Is this Japanese? Chinese? Korean? I'm stumped. Can anyone point me in the right direction or give insight as to what the writing says? The art is large and measures 45" x 20" |
Subject:Re: What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: Fujin Wed, Apr 15, 2015 This is a Chinese depiction of 'Shou 壽' or 'The Old Man of the South Pole', one of three deities of the 'Fu Lu Shou' trilogy. He is usually pictured with a crane or deer, holding a peach, with a gourd full of the 'Elixir of Life', and a scroll, on which is written the lifespan of all living things. In this depiction, he seems to be holding a branch of a peach tree! The bat is a symbol of happiness and joy. The Chinese word for bat (fu 蝠) sounds identical to the word for good fortune (fu 福), so bats are considered to be auspicious in China. |
Subject:Re: What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: rat Wed, Apr 15, 2015 This is Shoulao, a Chinese Daoist deity associated with immortality (as is the peach, the gourd containing the elixir of life, the bat as a homonym for good fortune etc) but as you note can appear in Japan and Korean contexts too. The inscription is a wish for long life, the picture itself most likely a birthday gift. The drawing seems like a modern illustration than a painting despite the traditional subject matter. |
Subject:Re: What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: Pete Thu, Apr 16, 2015 Thank you so much for the interesting information and what great story it tells. This is most definitely an illustration and not a painting. When you say modern, do you mean made in this century? Do you have any idea as to how old this art may be? |
Subject:Re: What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: rat Fri, Apr 17, 2015 Yes could be, but also could be a few decades older. |
Subject:Re: What story does this illustration tell? Origin?
Posted By: lak-khee Thu, May 21, 2015 The character in your illustration is SHOU. Find out more on Internet! |
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