Antique Rare Chinese Daoist Ritual Manuscript Pages – Late Qing Dynasty (C. 1880–1920) Hand-Brushed Calligraphy - Pair

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Rare Pair of Antique Chinese Daoist Ritual Manuscript Pages – Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1880–1920) Hand-Brushed Calligraphy Liturgy with Cinnabar … Read more Rare Pair of Antique Chinese Daoist Ritual Manuscript Pages – Late Qing Dynasty (c. 1880–1920) Hand-Brushed Calligraphy Liturgy with Cinnabar Ink Annotations

Item Specifics:
- Type: Paintings, Drawings & Calligraphy
- Era: Late Qing Dynasty / Early Republic Period (circa 1880–1920)
- Region of Origin: China
- Medium: Hand-brushed ink on traditional fibrous Xuan paper
- Culture: Chinese / Daoist (Taoist)
- Original/Reproduction: Original Antique Manuscript
- Format: Framed Diptych / Pair

Item Description:
For sale is a highly significant, museum-quality matching pair of original antique Chinese Daoist (Taoist) ritual manuscript pages. These are genuine, hand-brushed liturgical documents used on the ground by an active ritual master, offering a fascinating glimpse into turn-of-the-century Chinese religious practice. They are not modern lithographic or decorative prints.

Textual Context & Significance:
Beautifully executed in a disciplined, formal Regular Script (Kǎishū), the liturgical text outlines the sacred protocols and incantations used to initiate a sacred ceremony, explicitly referencing the preparation of the altar space ("严置法坛") to welcome the divine. The text contains specific invocations to prominent deities in the Daoist pantheon, including the Nine Emperor Gods ("九皇列聖").

Exceptional Authenticity Features:
1. Working Altar Annotations (Zhubi): The pages feature unique, handwritten corrections and performance notes in vivid cinnabar red ink. These include daily scheduling cues—such as morning/dawn ("青旦"), noon ("臨午"), and nighttime recitations—instructing the priest on exact liturgical timing.
2. Structural Visual Markers: A prominent hand-drawn red circle and inflection line serve as performative cues, marking rhythmic changes for the choir or ceremonial instruments (such as the wooden fish drum or gong).
3. Pre-Industrial Paper Splicing: Closer physical inspection reveals a distinct, vertical overlapping join line down the center of the paper sheets. This demonstrates the traditional practice of hand-splicing narrow sheets of organic mulberry/bamboo Xuan paper together to form a wider liturgical register, confirming an era prior to modern mass-produced continuous paper.
4. Natural Antique Patina: The paper exhibits gorgeous, age-appropriate organic fibers, mild localized foxing, and natural paper variation that beautifully validate its historic utility.

Provenance & Presentation:
Both manuscript sheets are beautifully preserved, professionally matted, and presented behind glass in high-quality, matching decorative black frames with deep red interior matting. The reverse backing board proudly bears the label of the prestigious Inma Gallery of Fine Art (Al-Khobar), a testament to their high-end gallery mounting, preservation, and curation during the late 20th century.

Dimensions:
[Seller: Please measure and insert the overall outer frame width and height dimensions here]

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