Taoist Official of Earth

Curious about how Taoist deities are depicted in art?

Taoist Official of Earth, housed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, is a key piece in the Three Taoist Officials series. This painting illustrates the celestial bureaucracy, with the Taoist Official of Earth emerging from a cliff amid an autumn landscape. Strange, Zhong Kui-like creatures populate the foreground, adding a mystical touch. Like the Painting of Mahamayuri, this work shines through its composition and vibrant colors. Likely a collaborative effort, it reflects the rich tradition of craftsmanship passed down through generations, blending artistry with skilled technique.

Song Dynasties (960-1279) Silk hanging scroll, colored. Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA.

This piece is compiled from the Chinese edition of Three Thousand Years of Chinese Painting by Foreign Languages Press and Yale University Press, translated by Chen Ying.