Poul Andersen
The Demon chained under 
Turtle Mountain

104 Seiten mit 32 Abb.
davon 20  Farbe
Format 17 x 24cm
Broschur

€ 26,-
ISBN 3 931768 55 4

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The book focuses on the unidentified Chinese castiron statue of a squatting, monkey-like demon
from the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst in Berlin. Most likely the statue was cast in 1101
and it presents the figure of Wuzhiqi, the spirit of the rivers Huai and Guo. The earliest extensive account
of the legend of Wuzhiqi by Li Gongzuo (ca. 770 - 848) is translated in full.
Based on a vast array of further primary sources the author goes on to explore the cult of this demon.
He demonstrates that the statue of Wuzhigi is associated with the Taoist  ritual dances
and that it belongs in the context of objects cast from iron
that for centuries have been placed on the banks of rivers throughout China.
The book is richly illustrated with photos from the region and with reproductions of objects of art
and drawings found in ancient texts.