Qilin Delivering Sons (Diptych)

Accession Number
2015/2.170.2

Title
Qilin Delivering Sons (Diptych)

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
19th-20th century

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
20 ¼ in x 11 ⅝ in (51.43 cm x 29.53 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Sharlynn and Andrew Circo, in memory of Sotokichi Katsuizumi

Subject matter
The background is silk-style and filled with 'auspicious symbols' including Buddhist emblems and attributes of the eight immortals. A chinese character on the left of the figures translates to "rich and abundant." Two figures are riding an animal known as the 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.

Physical Description
Right panel of a diptych. Two figures riding an animal face left and there is a Chinese character to the left of the figures. The bankground is green and filled with clouds and symbolic objects. 

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
children (people by age group)
human figures (visual works)
qilin
unicorns
wealth

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved