MING DYNASTY, LATE 16TH-EARLY 17TH CENTURY

This finely cast gilt-bronze figure represents Zhongli Quan, one of the most revered Daoist Immortals. In his raised right hand, he holds his characteristic plantain-leaf fan—an attribute central to his legend, traditionally credited with the power to awaken and transform all things, from reviving the dead to turning the inanimate into the living, and more broadly emblematic of the Daoist command of breath, vital force, and effortless efficacy. In popular belief, the fan is further understood to help mortals “turn stone into gold,” dispel misfortune, and alleviate suffering, and Zhongli Quan is therefore often venerated as a god of wealth. Presented not in dramatic action but in poised readiness, the immortal assumes an assured, quietly authoritative presence, and the figure would have served as a focus for protection, healing, and the cultivation of longevity within a domestic altar or small shrine setting.