HUA CHING (FLOWER MIRROR), SECRET TRADITION.

Dawn Sailings

Mo Ce 莫測, 1981

Woodblock print; ink on paper

Orchids -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu)

Hu Zhengyan 胡正言, after 1633 - before 1703

One page from a woodblock printed book mounted as an album leaf; ink on paper

17th-18th centuryChinese

Door Lintel Ornament: "Hanging Cash" with Lan Caihe and He Xiangu, Two of the Eight Immortals

Collage of printed and cut paper elements: red "paper-cut" decoration with applique woodblock printed image; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; identical to 1935.36.126.4.

New Year Print: Monkey King Receiving the Seal of an Official (Printed Characters in Circles Reading "Feng Hou Gua Yin") Above a Horse

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Xi'an, Shaanxi.

Door Lintel Ornament: "Hanging Cash" with Flower Basket

Collage of printed and cut paper elements: red "paper-cut" decoration with applique woodblock printed image; ink and color on paper; from a set of five bound together (1935.126.15-.19). Probably from Beijing.

Paper God: Kitchen God and Wife at an Altar Table in "Zou Shan Tang" ("Hall of Reporting Virtue"), with Two Offici

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper; with a printed couplet reading from right to left: "Ren Jian Si Ming Zhu; Tian Shang Ear Mu Shen" ("Arbiter of Fate on Earth; Surveillance [literally, 'ear-and-eye'] Official of Heaven"). Probably from Jiajiang, Sichuan.

Opera-Scene Print: The Capture of Fang La, a Scene from Outlaws of the Marsh

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper; with printed inscription of title "Qin Fang La" ("The Capture of Fang La"), and character names from right to left: "Fang La", "Mu Da Chong: Gu Da Sao" ("Gu the Tigress") and "Mu Ye Cha: Sun Er Niang" ("Sun the Witch"), also the print shop name: "Da Shun Hua Dian" ("Da Shun Print Shop"). Probably from Yangliuqing, Tianjin.

New Year Print: Two Children Presenting a Treasure Basin of "Cai Yuan Fu Cou" ("Source of Wealth and Good Fortune") and "Huang Jin Wan Liang" ("Ten Thousand Gold Tales")

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; compare with 1935.37.10.

Door God: Heavenly Official Presenting a Banner Reading "Tian Guan Ci Fu" ("Heavenly Official Bestows Fortune")

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper; with printed shop inscription reading "Yong Xing Ju" (probably the print shop name). Probably from Fengxiang, Shaanxi; possible pair with 1935.37.55.

Paper God: Daoist Heavenly Empress

Woodblock print; ink on paper; with printed inscription reading from right to left: "Tian Hou Niangniang" ("Heavenly Empress"). Probably from Beijing; part of a possible set of paper gods 1935.36.62-.81.

Door God: Heavenly Official in "Shou" ("Longevity")-Character Robe, with Two Boys and an Attendant, Presenting a Pomegranate

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; possible pair with 1980.92.6; image identical to 1935.37.19.