Small Daoist stele depicting Laojun in a niche

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

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Acquired under the guidance of the Carl Whiting Bishop expedition

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  500s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Cats, Laojun, Art, Animals, Daoism, Chinese Art, Northern Zhou dynasty (557 - 581), Incense, Carl Whiting Bishop collection, Stone, Halo

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture