Artwork Page for Mu Yuying Smashes the Gate of Heaven Formation

Details / Information for Mu Yuying Smashes the Gate of Heaven Formation

Mu Yuying Smashes the Gate of Heaven Formation

穆御英大破天門陣

1662–1722

Southeast China, Suzhou, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi reign

(1662–1722)
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Medium
Multicolor woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Measurements
39 x 62.5 cm (15 3/8 x 24 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2025.91.a
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Woodblock printing in color reached a height in China in the 1600s to 1700s. The prints were executed by means of sets of separate blocks, each carved to print a different color.

Description

In the 1600s, printing flourished in such Jiangnan cities as Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Huizhou, evolving from privately enjoyed illustrated books printed in color to more commercialized single-sheet color prints that were hung on walls and became part of the rich urban visual culture.
A woodblock print depicts a battle scene across a rocky landscape. Above, robed deities float among swirling white clouds. Center, a woman charges on horseback between ranks of armored warriors. To the left and right, banners inscribed with Chinese characters rise from the crowd, while a top central frame contains further calligraphy. Muted red, blue, and yellow tones accent the cream paper, which shows foxing and stains along the upper edge.

Mu Yuying Smashes the Gate of Heaven Formation

1662–1722

Southeast China, Suzhou, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi reign (1662–1722)

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