Seen here is a popular representation of Dongfang Suo, who served at the court of Emperor Wudi (r. 140–87 B.C.) of the Han dynasty and figured in the legend illustrated on the panel, in which he steals the peaches of immortality and attains everlasting life. Works of art depicting immortals were particularly appropriate for display at birthday celebrations. A similar tapestry in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, includes a woven inscription at the top indicating that it reproduces a painting by Shen Zhou (1427–1509).
