{"product_id":"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","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","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eTitle: 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\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: In the Style of the Kano School\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very Good\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eA Mid to Late Edo, mid 18th to 19th century handscroll, depicting a beautiful landscape with partying \u003cb\u003eXian\u003c\/b\u003e, also known as Taoist Immortals, and rather unusually, the Japanese \u003cb\u003eShichifukujin\u003c\/b\u003e, or The Seven Gods of Fortune. The scroll begins with a cloud enshrouded pagoda, and the \u003cb\u003eQueen Mother of the West\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eFollowing that is a scene of several other immortals, one of which appears to be \u003cb\u003eLiu Haichan\u003c\/b\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eAfter 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eFrom right to left, we can see the God of War \u003cb\u003eBishamonten\u003c\/b\u003e, preparing food using an early form of kamado, whilst the God of Luck and Wisdom \u003cb\u003eFukurokuju\u003c\/b\u003e, prepares some other foodstuff on a cutting board. Next, we can see \u003cb\u003eBenzaiten\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eDaikokuten\u003c\/b\u003e, the deities of financial fortune and talent, and commerce and prosperity, making mochi. Standing to their left is \u003cb\u003eJurōjin\u003c\/b\u003e, 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 \u003cb\u003eHotei\u003c\/b\u003e, god of fortune and popularity, whilst \u003cb\u003eEbisu\u003c\/b\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThe paintings have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, with a beautiful brocade decorated cover, and there are white \u003ci\u003ejikusaki\u003c\/i\u003e (knobs).\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eOne brocade bound \u003ci\u003eemakimono\u003c\/i\u003e (picture scroll) on paper, roughly 32 x 270 cm. The knobs are not included as part of the measurement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"That Guy With The Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51623316291895,"sku":null,"price":6000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0281\/1589\/4371\/files\/20260110_204951.jpg?v=1769967268","url":"https:\/\/thatguywiththebooks.com\/products\/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","provider":"That Guy With The Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}