Album of Daoist and Buddhist Themes

佛道主題畫冊

1200s

China, Southern Song dynasty

(1127-1279)

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Medium

Album of fifty leaves; ink on paper

Measurements

Each leaf: 34.3 x 38.6 cm (13 1/2 x 15 3/16 in.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou and Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange) 2004.1

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Location

Not on view

Description

This extraordinary album has 50 paintings on a variety of religious subjects. They were likely created by several master craftsmen to share with studio apprentices as models for fulfilling commissions. The Jade Emperor and the Daoist pantheon make up the first 26 leaves. The next 14 leaves portray the Buddhist Ten Kings of Hell administering punishments to the dead. The third section, called “Clearing the Mountains,” features divine soldiers, led presumably by the deity Erlang Shen 二郎神, fighting undesirable creatures.