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The Heavenly Official Bestows Happiness

China

Not on view

Surrounding this heavenly official’s elaborate headdress are five red bats, a rebus for the “five great fortunes”: longevity, wealth, health, love of virtue, and a peaceful death.

Prints made at Yangliuqing are noted for their elegant refinement, exemplified by the meticulous drawing and subtle coloring of this work. The deep gray shade of the insides of the long sleeves was painted by hand.

The Heavenly Official Bestows Happiness, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper with additional hand coloring, China

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