Title: The Banquet of Xiwangmu, Circa 1750-1850. A Beautifully Painted Handscroll of The Queen Mother of the West, Taoist Immortals including Liu Haichan and an Immortal Flying on a Crane, the Queen Mother, and the Seven Lucky Gods
Author: In the Style of the Kano School
Condition: Very Good
A Mid to Late Edo, mid 18th to 19th century handscroll, depicting a beautiful landscape with partying Xian, also known as Taoist Immortals, and rather unusually, the Japanese Shichifukujin, or The Seven Gods of Fortune. The scroll begins with a cloud enshrouded pagoda, and the Queen Mother of the West with two attendants. A mother goddess in Chinese religion and mythology, she is a major deity of ancient times, dating back to the Shang Dynasty Circa 2000 BCE. The popular belief is that she was thought to have blessed the Eight Immortals with their abilities and prowess, hence her inclusion in this painting.
Following that is a scene of several other immortals, one of which appears to be Liu Haichan, playing with a toad. Haichan is the patriarch of the Quanzhen School, and a master of neidan techniques, also known as internal alchemy. There is also an immortal in the sky, flying atop a red-crowned crane.
After this are two more scenes, depicting what initially appeared to be a grouping of other immortals, but after seeing the inclusion of Ebisu, it is clear that these are the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. As six of the Shichifukujin, or Seven Lucky Gods are derived from deities of both Mahayana Buddhism by way of China, and Chinese Taoism, it was initially confusing to understand how these figures were to be interpreted, but Ebisu is an ancient deity of purely Japanese origin, harkening to the time of Izanami and Izanagi, and is not worshipped as an immortal or deity in any Chinese pantheon.
From right to left, we can see the God of War Bishamonten, preparing food using an early form of kamado, whilst the God of Luck and Wisdom Fukurokuju, prepares some other foodstuff on a cutting board. Next, we can see Benzaiten and Daikokuten, the deities of financial fortune and talent, and commerce and prosperity, making mochi. Standing to their left is Jurōjin, god of the elderly and longevity, accompanies by a 1500-year-old crane. Lastly, if we look to the waters, we can see a seated Hotei, god of fortune and popularity, whilst Ebisu, god of prosperity and wealth in business, catches what is most likely a large carp, something he is often depicted with to symbolize abundance in meals.
The paintings have been produced with bright and lively colors, and painted in the style of the Kano School, with a heavier lean into the Southern School influence of the art style. It is likely that this was painted by a student or follower of the school, but there is no signature or seal to point to either.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, with a beautiful brocade decorated cover, and there are white jikusaki (knobs).
One brocade bound emakimono (picture scroll) on paper, roughly 32 x 270 cm. The knobs are not included as part of the measurement.
This handscroll is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing and wear to the brocade fabric. There is some scattered foxing and the occasional crease, with more foxing to a few of the creases.