Daoist Immortal Han Xiangzi
Unknown Artist
1662–1722
Medium
porcelain with famille verte overglaze enamel decoration
Dimensions
h. 28.3 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Severance and Greta Millikin Collection
Accession Number
1964.194
About this artwork
One of the Eight Immortals, Han Xiangzi was said to be the nephew of the famous Tang dynasty poet Han Yu (768–824). He is usually shown as a young boy holding a flute. Han is wearing a white robe decorated with peonies, hinting at his identity as the patron of florists and his legendary ability to make peonies bloom in winter. A four-clawed dragon, a decorative motif typically used for imperial nobility and certain high-ranking officials, decorates Han’s robe.