China, Ming Dynasty, Jiajing Period (1521-1567)
Dimensions59” (150 cm) x 29 ¾” (75.6 cm)

The Daoist Deity Marshal Wang (Wang Yuanshuai) depicted as a guardian warrior, in a martial stance balancing to the right, right hand raised with a mace-sword, and the left at chest height in a fist with a single finger protruding, the fiery red face under a jewelled yellow cap is directed at the viewer, but his gaze focuses towards the right in all three of his eyes. Dressed in armour with sacred scarves flying and sashes of embroidery and jewels, a red plaque with gold lettering hanging from his belt inscribed cixin zhongliang. The back of the head with a flaming halo and multi-coloured clouds surround the scene.

The identity of this rare depiction is made clear by the hanging placard – cixin zhongliang (Red heart, Loyalty and Virtue) which was bestowed on Marshal Yuan by the Jade Emperor according to legend. Wang is seen as a wrathful and powerful protector, able to crush evil demons and spirits. One of the few properly identified depictions of the Marshal with placard can be found in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, which shows him balanced on a flaming wheel, and fortunately retains its dedicatory inscription by the painter "Painted by order of the Imperial concubine (huang guifei) Shen, in the beginning of summer of the renyin year of JiaJing [1542]." (New York, Metropolitan Museum: Taoism and the Arts of China, Stephen Little. 2000).

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/41474

The vivid colours of the costume and clouds suggest the painting belongs in the category of Shui Lu Zhai – Buddhist purification ritual paintings, or its counterpart in Daoist Jing ritual. These large public spectacles which could take days to complete included ceremonies in which practitioners and priests were brought into the presence of Buddhas, gods and demons in painting form, which accounts for the need for vibrancy in the painting and colours and the very large format. The clouds add to the other-worldly nature of the ritual setting, as would candles and incense
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明 水陸畫王元帥神像畫軸