Chinese Early Qing Dynasty “Water and Land Ritual” Painting, 17th Century

The painting depicting groups of heavenly court officials and deities descending from the clouds to participate in the Liberation Rite of Land and Water. The figures all wear full, sumptuous robes, complete with hats indicating their station. The blue, green, red, black and white of the robes decorated with gilt dragon and geometric designs.

This painting is interesting in that it incorporates Daosit deities and heavenly officials coming down to participate in the Buddhist rite. There are five distinct groups of figures, each with a small inscribed plaque. Some of the groups are identified as Tian Xian, or Heavenly Immortals.

The group at the bottom left are identified as the Sanguan Dadi, or Three Great Emperor-Officials. The Emperor of Heaven is dressed in blue robes with gilt painted dragons. The Emperor of Water wears black robes. The Emperor of Earth wears yellow robes.
The group at the bottom right are the most interesting in appearance. The inscription identifies them at the Sisheng Zhen Jun, or the Four Saints: Zhenwu, Tianpeng, Tianyou, and Yisheng, The four figures as dressed in military armor, and are considered generals. On figure has an extra head, while another figure has a third eye, indicating their supernatural abilities.

The top two groups seems to be associated with the Twenty Eight Mansions, which relate to star designations within the Chinese constellation system.
The central group appress to be associated with the twelve signs of the zodiac.
The discrepancy in the number of figures with the number of figures described seems to indicate that this painting would have been one of a pair.

The large painting would originally have been one of a large set. The full set would have been used to decorate the various halls used to perform the lavish Buddhist “Liberation Rite of Water and Land”, one of the most important Chinese Buddhist rituals. The ritual was conceived to “liberate” the souls trapped in the lower realms by inviting and invoking beings in the higher realms to intercede on their behalf.

Framed in a metallic gilt wood frame with glass. The back with a stamp for the framing shop, with date of the framing. With a hanging wire.