Lilly Art Tour

This brilliant red silk scroll on display in the Thomas Room depicts eight iconic legendary beings in Daoist beliefs, said to have attained immortality by studying nature's secrets.  They are identified as far back as the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty [1279-1368].  The eight types represent the spectrum of Chinese society, from young to old, rich to poor, civil to military, and women as well as men.  They were so popular and legendary that the number eight still signifies happiness and good luck in Chinese society.