A Temple with Construction Workers at Work

Repairing the temple of Mazu in Meizhou. Anonymous. China, c. 1800. Gouache on paper. A hive of activity surrounds the entrance to the temple of Mazu, goddess of sea travel. On the roof labourers are at work; on the left, the sedan chair of a high-ranking official and policemen with their high hats are on the alert. Lively scenes such as this are unusual in Chinese art. The incident shown here occurred during the conquest of Taiwan by the Manchus in 1683 under the command of General Yao Qisheng. Having survived a storm, the general promised to sacrifice to the goddess Mazu on her birthday at the temple in Meizhou and extended the temple with a bell tower and a gate. Given by Mr and Mrs Dissevelt-van Vleuten.