Magu gives birthday greetings, Hanging Scroll
Huang Shen
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink and color on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 141.5 cm; Width 84 cm
Introduction
Huang Shen excelled in figure painting, often drawing on historical personalities and tales of immortals. This work is based on the popular legend of “Magu gives birthday greetings.” In Daoist lore, Magu is a celestial maiden who, on the third day of the third lunar month, brews wine from LingZhi (Reishi fungus) by the River of Rosy Pearls to celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West—a symbol of auspiciousness and long life. Here, Magu wears her hair in a high coiffure and stands at the foot of a cliff, accompanied by attendants who carry a wine vessel, present a flower basket, lead a celestial deer, and bring elixirs—gestures that evoke the act of offering wine in celebration of longevity. Magu turns to look back with attendants, awaiting the arrival of the birthday celebrant, her graceful robe fluttering in the breeze. Behind her, the cliff is rendered in swift, centred brushstrokes, giving the rocks an impression of poised vitality.
Throughout his life, Huang Shen painted numerous depictions of Magu, making “Magu gives birthday greetings ” one of his favoured subjects.
