Zhongshan Going on Excursion 中山出遊圖

Object Details

• Artist

  Gong Kai 龔開 (1222-1307)

• Label

  The artist's inscription explains that this handscroll depicts the legendary hero Zhong Kui, known as the Demon Queller, setting out on a hunting exhibition with his sister. According to legend, when Emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712-56) fell ill with fever, he dreamt that a small demon broke into the palace. Suddenly, a large man calling himself Zhong Kui appeared, attacked the demon, and devoured it; when the emperor awoke, his illness had miraculously vanished. The emperor summoned a court painter to make a portrait of the figure in his dream, and the painting was distributed throughout the empire as a talisman to expel harmful spirits. By the tenth century, other popular legends and practices began to accrue around the figure of Zhong Kui; for example, he acquired both a wife and younger sister.

  In Gong Kai's humorous and imaginative painting, Zhong Kui and his sister are shown riding in sedan chairs. A retinue of slave-demons accompany them and carry Zhong Kui's sword, bundles of household goods, pots of wine, and smaller demons they have captured.

  To learn more about this and similar objects, visit http://www.asia.si.edu/SongYuan/default.asp Song and Yuan Dynasty Painting and Calligraphy.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Daoism in the Arts in China (December 16, 2006 to July 1, 2007)

  Masterpieces of Chinese Painting (III) (May 29, 1999 to January 30, 2000)

  Masterpieces of Chinese Painting (II) (May 9, 1993 to May 31, 1994)

  Masterpieces of Chinese Painting (I) (August 3, 1984 to February 7, 1985)

  Chinese Figure Painting (September 17, 1973 to January 3, 1975)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Paintings (June 5, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, 1947 (January 7, 1947 to April 11, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting, Gallery 14, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to October 4, 1943)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, 1943 (October 4, 1943 to August 7, 1946)

  Chinese Painting and Pottery (May 2, 1923 to March 22, 1943)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1200s, 1300s

• Name

  Gong, Kai

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Description and travel, Art, Baimiao style, Zhong Kui, Chinese Art, Demon, Family, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Paintings