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Lot Essay
This beautifully carved set of ivory figures depicts the group known as the Eight Daoist Immortals, who are all associated with longevity.
The leader of the Eight Immortals is Han Zhongli (also known as Zhongli Quan), he is a military man, who is believed to have been a general in the Han dynasty, and is thus the patron saint of soldiers. While in the Zhongnan mountains he is supposed to have met some immortals, after which he too became an immortal. Han Zhongli is usually portrayed, as he is here, as a rather plump gentleman with his robe open to display his ample belly. He carries a fan, which he uses to revive the dead. Han Zhongli is believed to have persuaded the Tang dynasty scholar Lu Dongbin to join the immortals. Until he met Han Zhongli, Lu Dongbin kept failing the civil service examinations because the mortal examiners could not recognise his immortal abilities. He is regarded as the patron saint of barbers. As in the ivory figure, he is usually depicted with a fly whisk in his hand and a sword slung across his back.
He Xiangu is the only established woman of the group, and is regarded as the patron saint of housewives. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties she was usually shown carrying a bamboo sieve, but in the Qing dynasty this changed and, as in the case of the current figure, she carries a lotus. Lan Caihe is sometimes described as a strolling singer. In some instances Lan Caihe is portrayed as a woman, and at other times as a young man. Whichever sex is attributed to this immortal they carry a basket of flowers. The current figure also wears a cape made of mugwort leaves - something in which immortals are often depicted, since in Daoism mugwort is associated with prolonging life.
Zhang Guolao is believed to have lived during in the Tang dynasty, and is the patron saint of artists and calligraphers. He is supposed to have owned a white donkey on which he could travel many thousands of miles. At the end of the journey he would fold the donkey up as if it were made of paper and when he wished to ride it again he just sprayed it with water. Zhang Guolao is usually shown holding a bamboo drum with two iron sticks, as he is in this ivory figure. Han Xiangzi is also believed to have lived in the Tang dynasty, and to have been the nephew of the famous statesman and scholar Han Yu. He is the patron saint of florists. Han Xiangzi is usually, as here, depicted as a young man either carrying or playing a flute. Cao Guojiu is an aristocrat, who is believed to have lived in the Song dynasty and was the brother of an empress. He is dressed in an officials robes and hat, but is the patron saint of actors, and carries a pair of wooden clappers with which to keep time.
The most easily recognisable of the Eight Daoist Immortals is Li Tiegui. His name means Iron Crutch Li, and refers to the fact that he appears as a lame beggar, who leans on an iron crutch. He came to occupy the body of the lame beggar by chance, after his own body was accidentally destroyed while his spirit was travelling. As here, Li Tiegui is often shown carrying a gourd from which he can dispense medicine for the sick. He is thus, regarded as the patron saint of physicians.
The leader of the Eight Immortals is Han Zhongli (also known as Zhongli Quan), he is a military man, who is believed to have been a general in the Han dynasty, and is thus the patron saint of soldiers. While in the Zhongnan mountains he is supposed to have met some immortals, after which he too became an immortal. Han Zhongli is usually portrayed, as he is here, as a rather plump gentleman with his robe open to display his ample belly. He carries a fan, which he uses to revive the dead. Han Zhongli is believed to have persuaded the Tang dynasty scholar Lu Dongbin to join the immortals. Until he met Han Zhongli, Lu Dongbin kept failing the civil service examinations because the mortal examiners could not recognise his immortal abilities. He is regarded as the patron saint of barbers. As in the ivory figure, he is usually depicted with a fly whisk in his hand and a sword slung across his back.
He Xiangu is the only established woman of the group, and is regarded as the patron saint of housewives. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties she was usually shown carrying a bamboo sieve, but in the Qing dynasty this changed and, as in the case of the current figure, she carries a lotus. Lan Caihe is sometimes described as a strolling singer. In some instances Lan Caihe is portrayed as a woman, and at other times as a young man. Whichever sex is attributed to this immortal they carry a basket of flowers. The current figure also wears a cape made of mugwort leaves - something in which immortals are often depicted, since in Daoism mugwort is associated with prolonging life.
Zhang Guolao is believed to have lived during in the Tang dynasty, and is the patron saint of artists and calligraphers. He is supposed to have owned a white donkey on which he could travel many thousands of miles. At the end of the journey he would fold the donkey up as if it were made of paper and when he wished to ride it again he just sprayed it with water. Zhang Guolao is usually shown holding a bamboo drum with two iron sticks, as he is in this ivory figure. Han Xiangzi is also believed to have lived in the Tang dynasty, and to have been the nephew of the famous statesman and scholar Han Yu. He is the patron saint of florists. Han Xiangzi is usually, as here, depicted as a young man either carrying or playing a flute. Cao Guojiu is an aristocrat, who is believed to have lived in the Song dynasty and was the brother of an empress. He is dressed in an officials robes and hat, but is the patron saint of actors, and carries a pair of wooden clappers with which to keep time.
The most easily recognisable of the Eight Daoist Immortals is Li Tiegui. His name means Iron Crutch Li, and refers to the fact that he appears as a lame beggar, who leans on an iron crutch. He came to occupy the body of the lame beggar by chance, after his own body was accidentally destroyed while his spirit was travelling. As here, Li Tiegui is often shown carrying a gourd from which he can dispense medicine for the sick. He is thus, regarded as the patron saint of physicians.