Antique Mid 19th Century Chinese Wood Carving in the Theme of the Monkey King Journey to the West

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The Jouney to the West is a 16th century vernacular novel that was widely popular then and still popular in … Read more The Jouney to the West is a 16th century vernacular novel that was widely popular then and still popular in our time. It has been made into animated series for children so they can easily understand the story based on the adventures f a monk who traveled to India and back to collect Buddhist doctrines. On his way he met interesting folks - a monkey with magic, a human with a pig face, and a wandering monk. The novel is based on historical facts 0f a Tang Dynasty Monk Xuanzang who traveled to Indian and Afghanistan to collect Buddhist doctrines.

Retelling the story in a carved wood panel is very rare and it is the one and only item that I found throughout the years of shopping in China.. The wood carving is painted in color lacquer, some of the pigments are still visible. The monk with his white horse is sttanding next to the monkey in one detail. In the other is the monk Sandy with Pigsy, the one with the pig head. The wood panel could have been hang as part of an elaborate bed or could hang by itself. See less