Kuixing
Figure of Kuixing
1550-1640 (made)
1550-1640 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze figure portraits Kui Xing, a Daoist star-god connected with popular beliefs and astronomy. Kui Xing is the chief star in the Big Dipper constellation, but he is also called God of Literature, and worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations. Dreaming of Kui Xing in the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign.
The god is often represented holding a writing brush in his right hand and a scroll or a tablet in his left hand; here, a trapezoidal grain measure is balanced in his upturning left foot. The measure (dou) represents a container for wisdom and inspiration, but also holds an astronomical meaning: dou is the Chinese name for the Dipper, a part of the Big Dipper constellation.
The god is often represented holding a writing brush in his right hand and a scroll or a tablet in his left hand; here, a trapezoidal grain measure is balanced in his upturning left foot. The measure (dou) represents a container for wisdom and inspiration, but also holds an astronomical meaning: dou is the Chinese name for the Dipper, a part of the Big Dipper constellation.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Kuixing (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze, cast. Wood stand, carved |
| Brief description | Figure of Kui Xing, cast bronze, China, Ming dynasty, 1550-1640 |
| Physical description | Bronze figure of the god Kui Xing, displayed as a man with a grotesque face and a beard, holding an ingot or tablet in his left hand and with a measure for grain on his upturned left foot. With modern wood stand of turned mahogany. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | H.L. Florence Bequest |
| Production | From Register; Kui Xing is a demon god of literature. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze figure portraits Kui Xing, a Daoist star-god connected with popular beliefs and astronomy. Kui Xing is the chief star in the Big Dipper constellation, but he is also called God of Literature, and worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations. Dreaming of Kui Xing in the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The god is often represented holding a writing brush in his right hand and a scroll or a tablet in his left hand; here, a trapezoidal grain measure is balanced in his upturning left foot. The measure (dou) represents a container for wisdom and inspiration, but also holds an astronomical meaning: dou is the Chinese name for the Dipper, a part of the Big Dipper constellation. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose. Later Chinese bronzes. London: Bamboo Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990. p. 84, no. 66. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.211-1917 |
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| Record created | August 14, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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