Magu Brings Gift of Immortality

Item number 946/47 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Rolled woodblock print that has also been painted, on paper. The image depicts a male figure with white hair and a beard, and a female figure, Magu (麻姑) in a pink tunic, both sitting on a black donkey. The edges of the paper have a thin line of green, and there are thin wooden bars at the top and bottom. A piece of red twine is fastened at the top for hanging.

History Of Use

This picture would usually be displayed during the Chinese Spring Festival (春节) or Lunar New Year. Such pictures are thus known as nianhua (年画, new year pictures). Likely made in late 19th or early 20th century in a traditional Mianzhu (绵竹) painting and printing workshop in Sichuan province (四川).

Iconographic Meaning

Magu (麻姑) is a Taoist legendary immortal of longevity. According to legend, after her death as a young girl, she became a fairy. She then presented the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu; 西王母), the supreme goddess and the wife of the Jade Emperor, with the wine of immortality, on her birthday, which she had made with lingzhi fungus (灵芝), the ancient mushroom of immortality. The legend is thus known as 麻姑献寿 (Magu Brings Gift of Immortality). Pleased with Magu’s gift, the Queen Mother granted her the title Female Immortal.

Item History

Made in Mianzhu, Sichuan, China before 1926
Collected between 1906 and 1926
Owned by Edith Sibley
Owned by D. H. Reed, T. Gordon Reed and G. A. Reed before February 16, 1984
Received from D. H. Reed (Donor), G. A. Reed (Donor) and T. Gordon Reed (Donor) on February 16, 1984