Eight Daoist Immortals, Unsigned
ITop Seal: (right to left) 回X 氏, hul X shi, Hui X clan/family
Bottom Seal: (top to bottom, and righıt to left)景翳翳以將入,jāng yì yì yǐjiāng rù, 'The sun is dimming and about to set
Though unsigned, this painting of the Eight Daoist Immortals bears two seals, both written in seal script, near the lower right corner. The three-character upper seal contains a name. Read from right to left, the first character is 回(hui), and the last character (氏, shi) means family, or clan. While 回is a fairly uncommon surname, ending the seal with 'family' strongly suggests Hui is all or part of a surname. The middle character is a rare variant and has yet to be identified. This character might be a given name, courtesy name, or an art name. It is also possible that both the first and second characters of the seal area two-character surname. Unfortunately, at this time, no artist with a surname of, or starting with, 回 has been identified. The bottom seal contains a six-character quote from a famous poem, the Ode to Returning Home. Known as leisure seals, seals containing quotes or sayings were used by artists as well as collectors. At least one other example of this quote in a leisure seal was found, but only the seal carver, rather than the owner, was identified. The seal was, however, dated to the mid-Qing dynasty.
The Eight Daoist Immortals(入仙,bā xiān) gather beneath the bows of a majestic pine, listening to the music of the dizi (lute) played by Han Xiāngzǐ(韓湘子).To his left, holding a fan, stands Lü Dòngbīn (呂洞賓), identifiable by the sword carried on his back. Besides Lü is the only female of the eight, Hé Xiāngū(何仙姑). Continuing counterclockwise, the next figure appears to be Zhōnglí Quán(鐘離權), the leader ofLī Tiěguǎi(李鐵拐), with his iron crutch. Next in the circle is Liú Hǎichán(劉海蟾), carrying the three-leggedtoad (chánchú,蟾蜍)on his shoulder. Besides Liu might be Zhāng Guǒlǎo(張果老), the alchemist or divinerStanding to the right of Han, the flute player, is Cáo Guójiù(曹國舅), carrying a set of wood castanets.
Identification of several of the figures is difficult, as their symbols are not readily apparent. Furthermore, the depictions of some figures are atypical, with the symbols of certain immortals being mixed. For example, while Lü Dongbin does carry his traditional sword, the usual fly whisk is replaced by a feathered fan, often associated with Zhongli Quan. Liu Haichan is not typically considered one of the Eight Immortals, but is sometimes included. In such cases, one of the more common of the eight must be omitted from the group. In the case of this painting, this appears to have been Lán Cǎihé(藍采和), an ambiguous gendered figure, often depicted carrying a basket of flowers.
ITop Seal: (right to left) 回X 氏, hul X shi, Hui X clan/family
Bottom Seal: (top to bottom, and righıt to left)景翳翳以將入,jāng yì yì yǐjiāng rù, 'The sun is dimming and about to set
Though unsigned, this painting of the Eight Daoist Immortals bears two seals, both written in seal script, near the lower right corner. The three-character upper seal contains a name. Read from right to left, the first character is 回(hui), and the last character (氏, shi) means family, or clan. While 回is a fairly uncommon surname, ending the seal with 'family' strongly suggests Hui is all or part of a surname. The middle character is a rare variant and has yet to be identified. This character might be a given name, courtesy name, or an art name. It is also possible that both the first and second characters of the seal area two-character surname. Unfortunately, at this time, no artist with a surname of, or starting with, 回 has been identified. The bottom seal contains a six-character quote from a famous poem, the Ode to Returning Home. Known as leisure seals, seals containing quotes or sayings were used by artists as well as collectors. At least one other example of this quote in a leisure seal was found, but only the seal carver, rather than the owner, was identified. The seal was, however, dated to the mid-Qing dynasty.
The Eight Daoist Immortals(入仙,bā xiān) gather beneath the bows of a majestic pine, listening to the music of the dizi (lute) played by Han Xiāngzǐ(韓湘子).To his left, holding a fan, stands Lü Dòngbīn (呂洞賓), identifiable by the sword carried on his back. Besides Lü is the only female of the eight, Hé Xiāngū(何仙姑). Continuing counterclockwise, the next figure appears to be Zhōnglí Quán(鐘離權), the leader ofLī Tiěguǎi(李鐵拐), with his iron crutch. Next in the circle is Liú Hǎichán(劉海蟾), carrying the three-leggedtoad (chánchú,蟾蜍)on his shoulder. Besides Liu might be Zhāng Guǒlǎo(張果老), the alchemist or divinerStanding to the right of Han, the flute player, is Cáo Guójiù(曹國舅), carrying a set of wood castanets.
Identification of several of the figures is difficult, as their symbols are not readily apparent. Furthermore, the depictions of some figures are atypical, with the symbols of certain immortals being mixed. For example, while Lü Dongbin does carry his traditional sword, the usual fly whisk is replaced by a feathered fan, often associated with Zhongli Quan. Liu Haichan is not typically considered one of the Eight Immortals, but is sometimes included. In such cases, one of the more common of the eight must be omitted from the group. In the case of this painting, this appears to have been Lán Cǎihé(藍采和), an ambiguous gendered figure, often depicted carrying a basket of flowers.