Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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Zhong Kui the Demon Queller with Five Bats

  • Description

    Wu Wei was a famous figure painter favoured by Ming dynasty emperors (1368-1644). This painting was probably painted in the late 16th to 17th centuries by an anonymous Ming dynasty painter, whose skills were so accomplished that the work is attributed to the old master.

    Zhong Kui, the Demon Queller, has been a popular subject in figure painting from as early as the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907). The early Zhong Kui portraits were hung at the end of the year to drive away evil spirits. The pine trees, rocks, and river in this painting imply that Zhong is standing in a winter forest, common within early depictions. From around the 15th century, however, Zhong is depicted as a demon queller and bringer of fortune, and imagery in this painting also links him to this new role. For example, a vase held by two demons represents peace, the red coral branch inside wealth, and the fungi at the demon’s waist longevity. The five bats refer to the five blessings: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a graceful death. Zhong, holding his jade sceptre, looks up into the sky as if calling to the bats, originally considered as assistants to Zhong because of their ability to search for hidden demons in the dark. New Year Pictures are still hung both to drive away demons and bring good luck, and often feature the Demon Queller.

  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (place of creation)
    Date
    16th - 17th century (1501 - 1700)
    Artist/maker
    attributed to Wu Wei (1459 - 1508) (artist)
    Material and technique
    ink and colour on silk
    Dimensions
    mount 230 x 114.5 cm approx. (height x width)
    painting 160 x 111.5 cm (height x width)
    along roller 124 cm (length)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Presented in honour of Dr Angelita Trinidad and the late Jose Mauricio Reyes to celebrate the opening of the Khoan and Michael Sullivan Gallery of Chinese Painting, 2000.
    Accession no.
    EA2000.119

Glossary

Zhong Kui

  • Zhong Kui

    Zhong Kui, or Shōki in Japanese, is a figure from Chinese folklore who appeared to the ailing 8th century Chinese Emperor Xuanzong in a dream and dispatched the demons that were haunting him. Shōki promised the Emperor that he would rid the world of demons.

Past Exhibition

see (1)

Location

    • currently in research collection

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