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. . . is for anonymous


Anonymous (17th-18th century), Chinese
“Noxious Creatures”

Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk
95 X 58 cm. (37 1/2 x 22 4/5 in.)

Apocryphal signature and seal of Qian Xuan (early 14th century)

The five noxious creatures-the centipede, snake, scorpion, gecko, and toad-were symbolically expelled during the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, close to the summer solstice, a moment of transition when mankind was particularly exposed to danger.(1) On this day a picture of Zhongkui, exorcist par excellence, would be hung in order to expel evil spirits and demons. Bearing a sword, he is frequently shown, as here, pursuing the creatures and driving them away. The painting is thus apotropeic in nature, designed to avert evil and to secure a safe and secure environment for the house in which it was hung.

Paintings of this subject were done in a great variety of styles and by artists ranging widely in talent and technical expertise. The present painting actually presents only three of the noxious creatures.

1. See Wolfram Eberhard: A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols, London, 1986, pp. 208-09.

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