Artwork Details
L: 54 in.
DynastyGift of the Doris Meltzer Gallery
Copyright(Doris Meltzer Gallery), New York; loaned to the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 1972; acquired by the Indianpanolis Museum of Art in 2000
Worn by a high priest to celebrate Daoist rituals, this robe is elaborately embroidered with multicolored silk and gold wrapped threads. Daoism, one of the three major religions in China, has its central belief in the harmony between humanity and the cosmos.
The decorations on this coat, derived from both Buddhist and Daoist iconography are considered auspicious symbols. In the center back a Daoist pagoda, symbol of paradise, is surrounded by dragons pursuing flaming pearls of wisdom. The sleeves are embroidered with symbols representing the attributes of the eight Daoist immortals. The eight auspicious Buddhist symbols surrounding the pagoda are couched using metallic threads. On the right shoulder the sun is represented by a red disc, and the moon is represented by a white circle on the left shoulder.
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