- Object ID:
- 1453
- Title:
- Burning Pillar and Figures property
- Description:
- Burning Pillar and Figures property. Black pillar with red flames flaring at base and top. Two partially visible, half clothed figures climbing on either side, top one: full face, black hair hanging down, lower red trousers, ¾ face hair hanging down. Both hinged to pillar so that they can completely disappear behind it and pillar appears empty. Hinged red flames at mouth of oven door. Metal pin inserted near top of pillar can attach this property to the scrim. Base, or stove, is hinged to chimney pillar in 3 places.
- Notes:
- See Broman for similar piece with three climbing figures, p. 103, ex 161, labeled huo zhu 火炷. “The burning pillar was one of the punishments of the Second Hell, governed by Ch’u Chiang Wang 楚江王 (Doré vol. VI pp. 175-176).” Simon notes other pieces (148-169, 201:2, 7) “occur in the play Yu ti yüeh [You di yue] 遊地嶽, the text of which is, however, missing. The building is part of the palace belonging to Yen Lo Wang 閻羅王, the President of the Fifth Court in the Chinese Hades, which has ten hells, each with its own sovereign. The fifth hell is thus governed by Yen Lo Wang (Yen Lo or king Yama). There are also various inscriptions on the palace (Werner:1 pp. 499-501, 591-592; Asiatic pp. 249, 364, 374; and Werner:2 pp. 267, 268, 328-329).”
- Subjects:
- Property
- Dimensions:
- H: 22 ½ x 7.