Mirror with Deities, Chariot, and the White Tiger

書畫鏡

100–200 CE

China, Eastern Han dynasty

(25–220 CE)

Medium

bronze

Measurements

Diameter: 18.3 cm (7 3/16 in.); Overall: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.); Rim: 0.9 cm (3/8 in.)
Weight: 503 g (1.11 lbs.)

Credit Line

Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter in Honor of Sherman E. Lee 1995.332

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Location

241B Arts of Ancient China

Did You Know?

The meaning of the complex imagery on this mirror's back is not fully understood.

Description

Depicted on the mirror back are two Daoist deities: the King Father of the East (Dongwanggong) and the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu). Completing the design are the White Tiger of the west (one the Four Spirits representing the four cardinal directions, including the Green Dragon of the east, the Red Bird of the south, and the Dark Warrior of the north) and a chariot drawn by three horses. The reason for the redundancy of two symbolic images relating to the west is not known.