Daoist celestial worthy

This three-color (sancai) glazed sculpture consists of four sections: statue, body halo, lotus-dragon support, and two-tiered hexangular platform. It represents a member of the Three Pure Ones, the Daoist triad of supreme power. He is depicted as an immortal with a long beard, elongated earlobes, and a serene expression, and his hair is gathered into a bun-shaped headdress on top of his head. Seated on a lotus pedestal, he rests one of his hands on an armrest and gestures with the other.

As the manifestation of ultimate celestial energy, the Three Pure Ones are usually portrayed as elderly sages holding divine objects associated with their individual roles. Judging from his posture and headdress, this Daoist figure is probably Yuanshi Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of the Original Commencement), the first of the Three Pure Ones. He is often depicted holding a pearl representing the creation of the universe from void and chaos. The second of the triad is Lingbao Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of the Numinous Treasure), who holds a scepter (ruyi) signifying authority and order. Daode Tianzun (Celestial Venerable of the Dao and Its Virtue) was later added to the Three Pure Ones during the Tang dynasty, and he always has a fan to spread the Daoist doctrine.

Many workshops in Ming-dynasty Shanxi were well known for their production of wall tiles, statues, and vessels in sancai glazes. A representative of the era’s sancai ware, this double-fired statue was probably made in such a glazed-tile workshop. Although prefabricated molds of the components were used to reduce cost and increase efficiency of production, this kind of large work assembled after firing was no less expensive than similarly sized wood or stone statues carved out by individual hands. To attract more patrons, many workshops that mainly produced architectural components en masse also chose to pursue artistic quality and hired skilled sculptors to make refined products with vivid ornamental details.