#taoist immortal

[kuteragenesis]

“Taoïstische Onsterfelijke” or “Taoist Immortal” from Seba’s collection by unknown artist, ~1580 - 1650

Kagey Art Thoughts 4:

This is an ivory carving. I have looked for it on the internet and not found it, but that’s fine. The picture is from four years (minus five days) ago, when me and Jasmine were at the Hermitage museum in Amsterdam.

I don’t really have much to say about it, and I usually prefer illustrations to sculptures as an art form, but I rather like this guy. I’ve always been fond of the humble-looking-old-man-with-a-long-beard image, and it seems so fitting for him to be tall yet slightly-curved like the (what I assume to be) tusk he was carved from.

[animus-inviolabilis]

A Female Immortal on a porcine animal

Artist unknown Ming dynasty, 1368-1644

(from the collection of the Freer-Sackler Galleries)

[modernshxmxn]

People of flesh and blood don't know how many sins they accumulate, how often they reject prosperity and happiness. Their erroneous ways should be pitied. They certainly act as if they are entering open coffins and do nothing but continually disperse their energies. They behave as if they could bring their rotten bones back to life or arise from putrefaction. They only fear the superficial stench and the corruption, never obeying the driving force at the depth. Pitiful indeed-what the world calls prosperity and happiness.

Changfang from "Hugong" (The Gourd Master.)

[childrenofthetao]

Immortal Sister Zhang did not use herbs, massage, or exercise like many other Taoist healers. According to Immortalist records, she “had the patient sit opposite her with closed eyes, while she subtly projected her energy to attack the disease; the patients abdomen would suddenly become hot as fire and would growl thunderously. Even chronic illnesses would be cured at once.

Thomas Cleary, Immortal Sisters: Secret Teachings of Taoist Women Second Edition