CELESTIAL GENERALS

A Guardian King (Zhao Gongming)

A Guardian King

Deity
Zhao Gongming
Painting Type
Scroll Painting
Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Date / Period
Ming (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Artist
Unidentified artist
Institution
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Collection
Asian Art
Medium / Material
Hanging scroll; color on silk
Dimensions
76 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. (194.3 x 100.3 cm)
Accession Number
57.175
Source
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open Access, object 51835.

Description

Zhao Gongming depicted as a guardian king. Hanging scroll; Ming (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911); color on silk.

Iconography & Attributes

Zhao Gongming is traditionally depicted holding an iron whip in his right hand and a gold ingot in his left. The whip serves not only as a powerful weapon for subduing demons and commanding thunder, but also symbolizes divine punishment for ill-gotten wealth and his authority to uphold justice and punish evil.