Netsuke
Artist
Maker unknown
(Japanese)
Date1890-1910
MediumCarved ivory
DimensionsOverall: 4in. (10.2cm)
ClassificationsART
Credit LineProctor Collection
Object numberPC. 742.10
DescriptionCarved ivory figure depicting Chinese classical figure of one of Eight Daoist Immortals holding a peach.On View
Not on viewCollections
Copyright<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="https://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc/4.0/80x15.png" /></a><br />This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.
Label TextThe Eight immortals (Zhongli Quan, Zhang Guolao, Lü Dongbin, Cao Guojiu, Li Tieguai, Han Xiangzi, Lan Caihe and He Xiangu) are legendary beings of Daoism, said to have lived at various times and attained immortality through their studies of nature’s secrets. The Eight Immortals each represent a different condition in life: poverty, wealth, aristocracy, plebeianism, age, youth, masculinity, and femininity. The carved ivory figure depicted represents the condition of poverty, and carries a peach, a symbol of longevity.
