Detail View: National Palace English: Bamboo carving of the auspicious motif of two monks in harmonious union
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Work ID:
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M01P00003
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Title:
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Bamboo carving of the auspicious motif of two monks in harmonious union
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Creation Date:
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Qing Dynasty
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Start Year Date:
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A.D.1644
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End Year Date:
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A.D.1911
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Dynasty:
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63 Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1644~1911)
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Creation Place:
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China
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Measurements:
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Height: 9.5 cm; Width: 10.5 cm; Length: 5.3 cm
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Material:
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Bamboo
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Type:
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Wood and Bamboo Carvings
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Subject:
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Figure
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Repository:
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The National Palace Museum, Taipei
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Description:
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The two immortals are made of bamboo. Their heads are bald and hair is untidy, one sitting and the other standing. The sitting one holds a lingzhi on the right hand and his left elbow holds a rice bowl (his left hand is amputated). The standing one holds a lotus, and they look happily at each other. This piece imitates a harmonious reunion. Note: A legend in the Tang dynasty goes like this: two immortals freely wander and speak jokes and laughter in which the secrets of Zen are hidden. People respected these immortals, but the two immortals were once mortal beings and their friendship was comparable as brothers. Later, the older one married a girl with whom the younger one also was in love. Despaired, the younger one became a monk and went to stay in a temple on the Cold Mountain in Suzhou. When the older one found out the news, he also came to the mountain to look for the younger one. When they met again, the older one was holding a rice box (pronounced "he" in Chinese) and the monk was holding a lotus flower (pronounced "he" in Chinese). The lotus is phonetically the same as harmony, and the rice box as union. Therefore, when they met again, they formed a picture of harmonious union. Imitating this scene meeting, this piece represents a harmonious reunion.
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ImageV ID:
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M01P00003AS001
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Rights:
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Lee & Lee Communications
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