Divinity Atlas

Sacred Correspondences
Sources

Daoist Immortal Laozi, accession 1997.139 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Metropolitan Museum of Art collection record, read 2026-08-18

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art's own collection record for "Daoist immortal Laozi," a gilt copper alloy figure by the artist Chen Yanqing, active in the 15th century, dated by its own inscription to 1438. The record gives the accession number 1997.139, dimensions of height 19 cm, width 12 cm and depth 7 cm, the classification Metalwork, and the credit line Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 1997. The figure was made during the Ming dynasty and belongs to a devotional class of gilt Daoist icon showing Laozi as a venerated immortal rather than only as a philosopher.

Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier
1
The holding museum's own catalogue record for the accessioned object, the strongest available record for its artist, date, medium, dimensions and accession number, its own title directly naming Laozi as the figure shown and dated by the object's own inscription rather than by stylistic estimate.
Citation
Publisher
Metropolitan Museum of Art
URL
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39488
Source Type
Museum
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Laozi, Figures

This source names Laozi directly: "collection record for "Daoist immortal Laozi," a gilt copper alloy figure by the artist Chen Yanqing, active in the 15th century, dated by its own inscription to 1438."

Claims Backed By This Source (11 claims)

This source backs 11 claims across the atlas. As facts: 7 well-attested. As cited relationships: 3 holds. Plus 1 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

  • Sources, 6 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds.
  • Sacred Art & Iconography, 5 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
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