唐 青銅月宮鏡|Mirror with moon goddess and rabbit

Unknown

8th–9th century · Bronze · Asian Art

Depicted on the back of this mirror is the goddess Chang’e who, according to Chinese folklore, flees to the moon after stealing the elixir of immortality from her husband, the brave warrior Hou Yi, who saved the earth by shooting down nine of the ten scorching suns. She resides on the moon with a toad and a rabbit who uses a pestle and mortar to grind the magical ingredients of the elixir.

Artist

Unknown

Date

8th–9th century

Medium

Bronze

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1925