Qilin Delivering Sons (Diptych)
Chinese
Description
Subject Matter:
The background is silk-style and filled with 'auspicious symbols' including Buddhist emblems and attributes of the eight immortals. A chinese character on the left of the figures translates to "rich and abundant." Two figures are riding an animal known as the Qilin, a mythical hoofed animal with dragon-like features, also sometimes known as a Chinese unicorn. The Qilin is supposedly a gatekeeper that guarded a fairy's cave in the mountains. This animal is known as a symbol to provide prosperity or serenity, and when it has babies on the back, such as this image, it is bringing extraordinary children from heaven to parents.
Physical Description:
Right panel of a diptych. Two figures riding an animal face left and there is a Chinese character to the left of the figures. The bankground is green and filled with clouds and symbolic objects.
Usage Rights:
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