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Octafoil Mirror with Lunar Palace
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Bronze mirrors typically have one polished and one decorated side and were used in tombs for ritual purpose or served as disks for reflection. This mirror depicts the imagined scene of the moon in Chinese mythology. Legend says that the goddess Chang E consumed the elixir of immortality that she stole from her husband, the archer Yi, and flew to the moon. Chang E’s palace, the Broad Cold Palace (<em>Guanghan gong</em>) on the left side of the composition, is juxtaposed with a tall pine tree symbolizing longevity.
| Artist / Maker | China, Jin dynasty (1115–1234) |
|---|---|
| Date | early 1100s–mid-1200s |
| Culture / Origin | China, Jin dynasty (1115–1234) |
| Medium | bronze |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 21.3 cm (8 3/8 in.); Overall: 0.9 cm (3/8 in.); Rim: 0.8 cm (5/16 in.) |
| Department | Chinese Art |
| Type | Metalwork |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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