Rice measure with four constellation deities

China

Not on view

This vessel’s shape and pattern identify it as a rare example of a rice measure used in Daoist rituals. On each side is a figure in a Daoist robe with one of four animals (dragon, ox, dog, and goat). These animals represent constellation deities from the set of twenty-eight mansions in Chinese astronomy, which reflect the movement of the moon in a sidereal month.

#7372. Rice Measure with Daoist Figures

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Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China

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Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China
Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China
Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China
Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China
Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China
Rice measure with four constellation deities, Carved red, green, and black lacquer, China

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