Rubbing from the Wu Family Shrines, Left Shrine, South Wall, Lower Left

Rubbing from the Wu Family Shrines, Left Shrine, South Wall, Lower Left , Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE)

Where object was made: China

Material/technique: rubbing; paper; ink

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 64 x 69 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 25 3/16 x 27 3/16 in

Credit line: Gift of Mr. Laurence Sickman

Accession number: 1981.0007.17

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"The Art of Stories Told," Jun-2004, Veronica de Jong
Depicted along the three tiers of this rubbing are various stories and these, in fact, represent only a small portion of the myriad stories that cover several Wu family shrines. The central section of this rubbing illustrates a moral tale about three brave warriors who were killed over a dispute involving two peaches. According to the legend, these men were presented with this rare delicacy by the emperor and told that only the most worthy could have one. Two of them excitedly claimed a peach each and asserted they were superior. When the third warrior recounted before them his valor the two who had snatched the peaches were put to shame and committed suicide. The warrior without a peach then felt disgraced and also decided to take his own life.