Cleveland Museum of Art

Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes: Procession of Daoist Deities: Leaf 11

Date: 1200s
Medium: Album, ink on paper
Culture: China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279)
Department: Chinese Art
Institution: Cleveland Museum of Art

This album leaf depicts the Four Daoist Saints in martial garb from right to left: Field Marshal Tianpeng 天蓬大元帥, Vice Marshal Tianyou 天猷副元帥, True Lord Yisheng (He Who Cherishes Virtues 翊聖寶德真君), and True Lord Yousheng 祐聖真君. In addition, the painter added the figure of Cang Jie 蒼頡, the legendary inventor of written language. Marshal Tianpeng is represented in the manner of a Buddhist asura, with three faces and six arms. Marshal Tianpeng’s top two arms hold the sun with the three-legged crow and the moon with the rabbit pounding the elixir of life.

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