Shoulao (God of Longevity)

18th century

Shoulao, associated with the Canopus star of the South Pole, is usually depicted as an old man with a high forehead and long white beard, carrying a staff. The peach in his hand issued from a fabulous tree that bears fruit only once in thousands of years. In China, he is one of three gods known as Fu-Lu-Shou, the three deities of happiness, wealth, and longevity. In Japan, he is one of seven.

Nephrite

5 x 3 x 1 3/4 in. (12.7 x 7.62 x 4.45 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

33.1402

Now on view at the Asian Art Museum

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Chinese Art: A Seattle Perspective, Dec. 22, 2007 - July 26, 2009.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.

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