KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

The exterior is carved in shallow and high relief with a continuous mountainous landscape populated by groups of immortals. Shoulao is seated with He Xiangu, Lan Caihe and Li Tieguai, who points towards Zhang Guolao, shown riding a donkey along a winding path and holding his fish drums. The composition is skilfully conceived, with the rockwork unifying the scene into a continuous landscape. The carver employs a remarkable range of relief depths to create a strong sense of three-dimensionality, particularly in the delineation of the foreground and receding rockwork.