|
|
|
The World of Immortals January 2 (Tuesday) to January 28 (Sunday), 2007 The Collections Hall, Galleries 11/12 This exhibition features immortal paintings from Song (960-1279) to modern China and Muromachi to Edo-period Japan. Reflecting people's many wishes and desires, such as longevity, health, bountiful harvests, wealth and fame, and prosperity, a multitude of wish-granting immortals were created in East Asia. Detailed and fascinating paintings of these supernatural beings came to be popular in China and Japan. In China, especially from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) onward, images of eight Taoist heroes became well known. These figures included Lu Dongbin (J., Ryo Dohin), Zhong Liquan (J., Sho Riken), and the semi-legendary figures Liu Haichan and Li Tieguai, who became the often-paired immortals Xiama (J., Gama) and Tieguai (J., Tekkai). Later, Hanshan (J., Kanzan) and Shide (J., Jittoku), who first appeared as Chan (J., Zen) eccentric hermits, also gradually took on Taoist features and can be seen floating above the ocean with the Eight Immortals in Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) paintings. In Japan, the content of many immortal paintings were iconographically based on Chinese models. However, master artists of the Muromachi and Edo periods, such as Sesson (1504-1589) and Soga Shohaku (1730-1781), used their imaginations to create their own colorful renditions of these figures. Other developments have also occurred. For example, the deity Tenjin has been widely depicted in scenes where he is crossing over to China, and Japanese gods such as Ebisu and Daikoku have been combined with their Chinese counterparts in popular paintings of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune.
|
|
 |
|
 |
