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The Immortal Lü Dongbin Appearing over the Yueyang Pavilion

late 13th–early 14th century
Not on view
This fan depicts the Daoist immortal Lü Dongbin hovering above the Yüeh-yang Lou, a famous pavilion on the east shore of Lake Dongting, in Hunan Province. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the cult of Lü Dongbin flourished under the influence of the Quanzhen ("Perfect Realization") sect of Daoism. The center of the cult was the Yongle Gong (Temple of Eternal Joy) in Shanxi Province. The painting style of the figures and the architecture and landscape details of this fan relate closely to murals in Yongle Gong that date to the latter half of the Yüan period (1279–1368). Therefore, the cyclical date dingsi inscribed on the wall outside the pavilion in this picture probably corresponds to the year 1377.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 南宋/元 佚名 呂洞賓過岳陽樓圖 扇
  • Title: The Immortal Lü Dongbin Appearing over the Yueyang Pavilion
  • Artist: Unidentified artist Chinese, late 13th–early 14th century
  • Period: Southern Song, Yuan or early Ming dynasty
  • Date: late 13th–early 14th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 9 3/8 × 9 7/8 in. (23.8 × 25.1 cm)
    Mat: 15 × 15 in. (38.1 × 38.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.170.2
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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