Gu Xiu Seeking Medicine Map Axis

[Gu Xiu Looking for Medicines Map Axis]

Gu Xiu Looking for Medicines Map Axis, Qing Qianlong, 123 cm long, 45 cm wide
This graph axis is used to embroider a medicine seeking graph on the natural colored satin ground. In the picture, white clouds surround the green mountains, a crane flies down on a pine tree, there are two high scholars under the tree, and a child halfway up the mountain is collecting herbs. Above it, there is an ink book saying, “Give me the secret of eternal life, and enter the Cuiwei from afar. Collect zhi yun to dye your sleeves, and search for medicinal mist to dip your clothes.” And there are three aspects embroidered with Zhu Yin: “Jubao Zhai”, “Lu Xiang Yuan”, and “Tiger Head.”
This drawing combines embroidery and painting. The figures, deer, and cranes are mainly embroidered with colored silk threads using various stitches, such as needle sets, net needles, hair applying needles, seed beating needles, chicken hair needles, and oblique winding needles. The deer has areas where they can be painted with brush strokes, while the mountain stones are mainly painted. After the outline is embroidered, it is rendered with lithography, stone green, ochre, and ink. The leaves are first painted with green, and then embroidered with leaf shapes. This combination of pictorial embroidery and painting reflects the most important features of Gu embroidery. The embroidered “Lu Xiang Yuan” and “Hu Tou” are also the main marks of Gu embroidery. This work is one of the representative fine works of Gu embroidery in the Qing Dynasty.