Accession Number
1989/2.158

Title
Playing the Flute, Attracting a Phoenix (Pair with 1989/2.157)

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
19 15/16 in x 12 5/16 in (50.7 cm x 31.3 cm);21 1/16 in x 13 1/2 in (53.5 cm x 34.3 cm);19 15/16 in x 12 5/16 in (50.7 cm x 31.3 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Willard A. and Marybelle B. Hanna

Subject matter
<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Two child figures are riding a hoofed animal. This animal is known as Qilin, a mythical hoofed animal with dragon-like features, also sometimes known as a Chinese unicorn. The Qilin is supposedly a gatekeeper that guarded a fairy's cave in the mountains. This animal is known as a symbol to provide prosperity or serenity, and when it has babies on the back, such as this image, it is bringing extraordinary children from heaven to parents. The child on the left is playing the flute, and the figure on the right is thinking of a pheonix, which is known to be the "king of birds" and represents benevolence, righteousness, propriety, knowledge, and sincerity. 

Physical Description
Two figures are seen riding a hoofed animal and they are facing left. The left figure is playing the flute and a thought bubble appears above the head of the right figure, with an image of a pheonix. 

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
birds (motifs)
children (people by age group)
human figures (visual works)
myths
posters
qilin
unicorns