Artwork preview

Demon queller Zhong Kui with demons

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The sculpture depicts Zhong Kui, a seated male figure with a rounded face, wearing a long-sleeved garment gathered at the waist. He sits on the left side, facing right. His right arm rests on his knee, while his left arm extends outward, and his left hand holds an object. To his right, a smaller male figure with a pointed hat lunges forward; his right arm swings backward, likely holding an object. A third figure, on the right side, lunges forward; only their upper body visible. Behind Zhong Kui, a woman holds an object in her right hand. A tree with gnarled branches rises behind them. The sculpture rests on a flat, oval base with a textured edge and exhibits a dark reddish-brown color. The background is a gray gradient.

Artwork details

Date:
late 17th–early 18th century
Medium:
Bamboo
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
600 × 450 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette