Chinese Porcelain Ba Xian Plaque

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Chinese porcelain Ba Xian plaque, finely painted, Qianjiang style scene in polychrome glazes of two of the Chinese Eight Immortals … Read more Chinese porcelain Ba Xian plaque, finely painted, Qianjiang style scene in polychrome glazes of two of the Chinese Eight Immortals floating on Xiangyun (auspicous clouds) above a gnarled pine. The plaque is mounted in the original, finely carved, traditional, Chinese frame with original Chinese bronze hanger and removable back. Circa Republic of China era.

site size: 14.5" high x 9.375" wide

two Immortals: Li Tieguai: (李鐵拐), considered to be mentally disturbed and associated with medicine
and easing the suffering of the sick and needy, identified by his iron crutch and calabash bottle.

He Xiangu: (何仙姑), the only female of the group, often depicted holding a lotus flower.

Xiangyun: Cloud motifs are rooted in the agrarian culture of the Chinese people. Clouds are associated with good luck as the cloud makes rain which moisten all things, and therefore, it brings good fortune to people. In the Chinese language, clouds are called yun (云; 雲; yún) which is a homonym for the Chinese character yun "good fortune" (运; 運; yùn). In Chinese culture, clouds (especially the five-coloured clouds) are perceived as an auspicious sign (e.g. an omen of peace,  a symbol of Heaven, and the expression of the Will of Heaven. They also symbolize happiness and good luck. Early in its history, clouds were often perceived under a ritual or liturgical lens where xiangyun were oftentimes associated with the presence of deities and were considered a good omen indicating the arrival of good fortune.
In Chinese mythologies, mythological creatures and deities use clouds as their mount. Clouds were also closely associated with the Chinese immortals (called xian) and their residence on Mount Penglai. See less