Sakyamuni, Lao Tzu, and Confucius
date: label: Date
content: 1368-1644
label: Period
content: Ming dynasty
notes: label: Label
content: After the blending of the Three Philosophies--Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism--was initiated in the tenth century, the interpretation of this unity became an increasing popular theme in painting during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). In this work, Confucius approaches from the right, folding his hands in a bow to Shakyamuni Buddha, who wears a red robe and can be easily identified by his ushinisha, a cranial protuberance symbolizing wisdom. Holding a roll of his Daodejing (The Classic of the Way and Virtue), Laozi stands behind Shakyamuni with a warm smile across his face. The depiction of the three founders in such harmony conveys a thought prevalent during the mid-Ming period, when this painting was created.
label: Provenance
content: To 1916
label: Provenance
content: Li Wenqing (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, to 1916 [1]
label: Provenance
content: From 1916 to 1919
label: Provenance
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Li Wenqing, in New York, in 1916 [2]
label: Provenance
content: From 1920
label: Provenance
content: Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 1281, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. See also, LVC Catalogue, 1915, No. 79.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See note 1.
label: Provenance
content: [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
label: Collection
content: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: Buddhist Art (May 9, 1993 to August 9, 2011)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Li Wenqing 李文卿 (ca. 1869-1931) (C.L. Freer source)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
place: label: Origin
content: China
topic: label: Topic
content: Buddhism
label: Topic
content: Daoism
label: Topic
content: Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)
label: Topic
content: Confucius
label: Topic
content: Laozi
label: Topic
content: China
label: Topic
content: Shakyamuni
label: Topic
content: Chinese Art
label: Topic
content: Charles Lang Freer collection
setName: label: Related Online Resources
content: Google Arts & Culture
label: See more items in
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Charles Lang Freer
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: F1916.109
objectType: label: Type
content: Painting
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Ink and color on paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (image): 61.5 x 59.9 cm (24 3/16 x 23 9/16 in)