Statue of Dongfang Shuo
Description
Biting on a branch of peaches, an old man is putting on his shoe while balancing himself on one foot on a rock. The fruit identifies him as Dongfang Shuo, the mortal who stole peaches of immortality from the orchard belonging to the Queen Mother of the West, located in the Kunlun mountains to the west of China. These peaches ripened once every 3,000 years and were reserved for immortals.
Dongfang Shuo hailed from the court of Emperor Wu in the Han dynasty. Legend has it that he stole peaches on three occasions, and, thus, became immortal. He is considered a god of longevity by the Chinese.
Usually, he is shown carrying a branch of peaches and running with his clothes flying behind him, as in the jade sculpture in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. In this unique and finely carved example, he has paused for a moment to put on his shoe, which he had shed in his haste. To free his hands for this purpose, he holds the branch of peaches between his teeth. The sculptor has successfully portrayed him as a crafty old man, with an impish look on his face.
Sir Ratan Tata Art Collection
Collection
Chinese Art
Object Type
Figurine
Material
Boxwood
Schools/Culture/Period
Qing dynasty
Technique
Wood carving
Date
18th–19th century
Location
China
Dimension
Height: 25.1 cm