Xi Wang Mu

19th century ink on paper line painting of Xi Wang Mu, recently remounted. This is an under painting that would have been used as a guide for tracing other images. The painting shows the immortal fairy or xian named Xi Wang Mu. She is said to be the queen of the Western Paradise, and there she has an orchard of peaches that bloom and come to fruit every 3000 years. And when they are eaten they bestow immortal life. There are humorous stories of monkeys stealing these peaches. There are stories of high officials of China stealing the peaches and achieving immortality. She is seen with the blue bird in her tiara which is her iconographic symbol.

王母。清代（19世纪）。白描纸本立轴。质优重裱。