Illustration of Zhong Kui the Demon Queller

Ming dynasty (1368�1644), Tianqi period (1621�27) dated 1624

Unmounted sheet comprising 3 joined sheets, ink rubbed on paper; 199.7 x 109.7 cm

Date of rubbing not given, Qing dynasty (1644�1911)

Inventory number: Huaxiang 1844

Zhong Kui is one the most popular folk icons of the Chinese.� According to legend sometime during the Kaiyuan era (713�42) Emperor Xuanzong (685�762; r. 712�62) of the Tang fell ill and had a nightmare in which he was disturbed by Xu Hao, a small demon of destruction who stole his jade flute and his consort's perfume bag.� The little demon was subsequently captured and devoured by another imposing demon dressed in ragged clothes and black boots, who introduced himself to the emperor as Zhong Kui, a failed scholar who had committed suicide a century earlier and appointed himself exorcist.� When the emperor awoke from his dream, he commanded the court painter Wu Daozi (689�759) to paint a portrait of Zhong Kui.

This portrait, engraved on a large stone stele, depicts Zhong Kui in the pose of a warrior.� However, he carries a qin (zither) and a case of books.� Based on the title slip on the case, Jun tian guang yue, this picture may be titled "Zhong Kui Listening to Heavenly Music."� The two-columned inscription at upper left provides the name of Liang Jianting from Guanzhong (Shaanxi), a prefect in Henan province, and an early summer date in the jiazi year of the Tianqi reign era, i.e. 1624.� The other inscription at the middle left states that Liu Anxing, the district magistrate of Dengfeng County was responsible for erecting the stone engraving.� The original stone is now kept in the Shaolin Temple at Dengfeng (Kaifeng) in Henan Province.