Eating the Demon, Hanging Scroll
Luo Pin
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on silk
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 55 cm; Width 29 cm
Introduction
Luo Pin, celebrated for his depictions of ghosts, imbued his supernatural subjects with remarkable vitality. In this work, rendered in bold, ancient-spirited brushwork, the scholar-official Zhong Kui, dressed in full regalia, sits beneath a willow tree awaiting his meal. Two servant demons have captured a small ghost, presumably to be cooked and served to Zhong Kui. In Chinese folklore, Zhong Kui devours evil spirits to dispel malevolent forces. Luo’s friend, the poet Jiang Shiquan, inscribed: “Spirits and demons lurk everywhere; may they all enter Old Kui’s mouth.” Luo, who lived humbly and was deeply sympathetic to the hardships of common people, used the image of Zhong Kui “consuming all the world’s evil spirits” as a metaphor for his wish for peace and harmony.
Inscriptions by Luo’s contemporaries, including noted literati Wu Xiqi, Zhao Huaiyu, and Xue Xue, accompany the painting.
