A
heavy and solid deeply stained statue, striations and intricate natural patterning
in the material; cream to gold in color. Carved in Ming style exhibiting the firm
contours and simplicity of design for which the Ming Dynasty is known, depicting
Cheng Kuo Lao standing with his attribute of a bamboo music instrument, his features
in a benevolent smile with a stubble of beard.
Cheng
Kuo Lao was a Taoist immortal who has supernatural power such as invisibility
and travel immense distance on a white mule in minutes. During the Tang dynasty
(7th-8th century), The emperor Ming Huang wish to attach him to his court, but
Cheng Kuo Lao would not give up his wandering life. On the second summons from
the court he disappear, and entered on immortality without suffering bodily dissolution.