清早期 竹雕鍾馗群鬼|Demon queller Zhong Kui with demons

Unknown

late 17th–early 18th century · Bamboo · Asian Art

The tale of Zhong Kui quelling demons can be traced to the Tang dynasty (618–907) when Emperor Minghuang (r. 712–756) was purportedly cured of an illness after dreaming about a large ghost eating demons. Here, complicated groups of figures are carefully carved into the natural shape of the bamboo. Zhong Kui is shown seated on the back of a recumbent demon, while other demons present him various offerings.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 17th–early 18th century

Medium

Bamboo

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Gift of Elizabeth V. Cockcroft, Bequest of Florance Waterbury, in memory of her father, John I. Waterbury, and Gift of Robert H. Ellsworth, by exchange, 2008