Vadas József (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 11. (Budapest, 1991)

FERENCZY Mária: A modernizáció megjelenése a századeleji kínai ábrázolásokon

are painted yellowish or green (i.e. gold and copper). Explanation: Liu Hai, a Taoist deity, is a symbol of good luck; in his earthly life he reputedly acquired the knowledge of magic as a disciple of a Taoist wizard. The threelegged toad is his mount; he can go anywhere while riding on its back. The toad was never seen by anybody, still, Liu Hai can conjure it any time with his magic string with golden coins. He is mostly shown in the act of putting his foot on the back of the toad (cf. ALEKSEIEV 1966: pp.186-188., 191-203.; WILLIAMS: p.403.; EBERHARD: pp.165., 179-180.). The Twins are symbols of harmony and unity: on the original images of them one of these serene Taoist hermits used to carry a box (ho) filled with treasures, the other a lotusflower (ho), a symbol of fecundity and beauty, hence their names (Iw ho: harmony, unity), cf. CHAVANNES: p.20.

29 The picture with the figure of Liu Hai wishes good luck and wealth to its holder. This wish is further enhanced by the treasure box with one of the Twins. This in turn adds the representation of both of them to the picture, rounding off the presage with a wish for conjugal, domestic harmony. Out of the details enriching the promise of a lucky future the character for long life and the symbol of boundless luck, the swastika should be mentioned (cf. CHAVANNES: pp.22-24.,48.). The presentation is economical: the figure of Liu Hai and that of the Twins are merged together representing them as two persons only (the attributes remained, only the usual lotus-flower from the hand of one of the Twins is missing, although amply represented on their flowery attire). Parallel cases: CHPP 1988: no.63.

30 6. MAGIC PICTURE PROMISING MANY OFFSPRING Inventory no.: 89.48.1 Size: 35 x 60 cm Title: Dragon and Phoenix Bring Good Luck (Lung feng ch'eng hsiang) Signature: Jung ch'ang hua tien

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1 Technique: block-printed with black and (over the hand-colouring) gold (the scales of the fish and the rays of its fins, the feather of the phoenix, the pattern on the pinafore of the child); hand-coloured with pink, orange-yellow, pale red, deep red, pale blue, deep blue, green, white colours and Chinese ink. A fine work. Condition: paper a little yellowish, crumpled, with frayed rims. The colours are still vivid. Subject: a chubby small boy bursting with health faces the onlooker smiling, while holding onto the back of a huge goldfish. The hair of the child is close-cropped; the two small tufts of hair that remain are bound with red strings. A flower is inserted into the tuft on the left; there are golden bracelets and anklets on the wrists and ankles. On the neck is a blue string bearing an amulet; he is clothed only in an ornate red-rimmed green baby's pinafore. The fish has a long tail and protruding eyes, and is coloured orange-red-gold. A cloud is coming out of its mouth, and has a pied phoenix in it. The rim of the cloud and the water below are indicated by a few strokes and pale blue colouring. Explanation: In the traditional Chinese set of values, the importance of having many children was paramount as a promise for the survival of the family. New Year pictures of this kind served to promote this by magical means. Among the wide variety of the pictures of this kind, the representation of good-looking, healthy children accompanied by several magic symbols is not