Skip to Content
Today Open today 10–11 members | 11–8 public

Mirror with Images of Daoist Deities

A work made of bronze.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

Image actions

  • A work made of bronze.

Date:

Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25–220), 2nd/3rd century A.D.

Artist:

China
probably from Zhejiang province

About this artwork

Mirrors of the Han dynasty were designed to procure blessings of longevity for the living and to guide the soul of the deceased toward immortal bliss. The images cast on the back of this mirror figured prominently in the quest for immortality that pervaded Han China. Two venerated deities that were later incorporated into the Taoist pantheon—the Queen Mother of the West (Xi Wang Mu) and the King Father of the East (Dong Wang Kong)—are seated opposite the central knob. Each is attended by immortals, identified by their whisks. Horse-drawn chariots may be interpreted as vehicles to escort the soul on its journey between this world and the next.

Status

On View, Gallery 133

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Mirror with Images of Daoist Deities

Place

China (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

100 CE–299 CE

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

20.6 × 0.6 cm (8 1/8 × 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection

Reference Number

1929.644

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/3316/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share