Brooklyn Museum: Asian Art: Wine Jar with Eight Immortals

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Wine Jar with Eight Immortals

This jar was originally catalogued as a later Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) object, but recent scholarly examination has identified it as an important fourteenth-century example of the theme of the Eight Daoist Immortals. This Wine Jar exemplifies the application of decoration, ostensibly religious in character, to an object intended for everyday use. The Eight Immortals, like the many images of palaces and paradise gardens that are also borrowed from Daoist mythology, represent the hope for long life and abundant good fortune in the present world.

Medium: High-fired green ware (celadon)
Place Made: Zhejiang, China
Dates: 1271-1368
Dynasty: Yuan Dynasty
Dimensions: 10 x 10 15/16 x 11 5/8 in. (25.4 x 27.8 x 29.5 cm)
Collections: Asian Art
Museum Location: This item is on view in Asian Galleries, The Arts of China, 2nd Floor
Accession Number: 52.49.33
Credit Line: The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins
Image: Overall, 52.49.33_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

Catalogue Description: Storage jar with 8 Immortals Crossing the Waters (ba xian guo hai) depicted on the belly. The 8 immortals are Lu Dongbin, Zhong Liquan. Zhang Guolao, Lan Caihe, Tie Guaili, Han Xianzhi, Zhao Guojiu, He Xiangu. Legends say since they have magical powers, they can cross the seas. Thus the designs have billowing waves and cloud patterns, and generally are carved in relief. Unglazed interior base, rim, and circular foot. Thick blue-green glaze on entire vessel. Figures of 8 immortals are unglazed. After secondary oxidization, the red color body complements the blue-green glaze. Lipped mouth; raised belly; constricted lower belly; wide and thick circular foot. Fret-scroll (hui wen) encircling neck. Incised chrysanthemum petals encircle foot. Condition: Intact.

Collections: Asian Art: Wine Jar with Eight Immortals