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Small Daoist stele depicting Laojun in a niche

National Museum of Asian Art

Object Details

Description
A miniature stele with relief carving on the front and engraved inscription on the back. The front depicts a rectangular niche beneath an elaborate canopy or curtain. The canopy has side streamers that consist of tassels and decorations that are presumably jade ornaments. Inside the niche, a seated figure leaning on an armrest is posed on a high pedestal, at the foot of which two lions appear flanking an incense burner. The figure--presumably the Daoist deity, Laojun, is capped, bearded, and with raised right hand holding a zhuwei. He has a double nimbus. Two standing attendants who hold hu tablets are on either side.
Inscriptions
Inscription: "In the nineteenth day of the sixth moon of the second year of Tianhe (567), daomin Zhi Yuanzun made a Laojun image, for the benefit of his late parents."
Collection
Freer Study Collection
Credit Line
Acquired under the guidance of the Carl Whiting Bishop expedition
567
Period
Northern Zhou dynasty
Accession Number
FSC-S-48
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 16.8 x 12.2 x 6.1 cm (6 5/8 x 4 13/16 x 2 3/8 in)
Origin
China
Related Online Resources
Google Cultural Institute
See more items in
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Topic
stone
Daoism
lion
incense
Northern Zhou dynasty (557 - 581)
China
halo
Laojun
Chinese Art
Carl Whiting Bishop collection
Record ID
fsg_FSC-S-48
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye379b80084-8658-460d-8ab6-50f7463c3829
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

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