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recto overall
Clearing the Mountains of Evil Spirits
recto overall
recto overall

Clearing the Mountains of Evil Spirits

CultureChinese
Date19th century
MediumHandscroll; ink and color on silk
DimensionsOverall: 15 3/4 × 480 5/16 inches (40.01 × 1220 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number34-231/6
On View
Not on view
Collections
DescriptionDevils hunting wild animals in mountains and woods.Gallery Label
This long scroll painting depicts a popular story about the folklore hero Erlang, who leads his ghost army to defeat demonic creatures at Mount Guankou in the Sichuan province. In this part of the story, the army captures a group of she-demons, wild creatures that take the form of beautiful women to attract innocent men traveling through the mountains. Despite their near-perfect appearance, the women’s hairy, exposed claws reveal their true forms.
Provenance

R.G. Matzene;

Purchased from R.G. Matzene by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 1934.

 

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