Daoism Assignment

Daoism is a Chinese religion that is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture. Beginning from Tang dynasty (618–907), Three Purities (Three Clarities/ Sanqing/ 三清) became the highest deities in Daoism. They reside in the three greatest areas in the heaven and they are conceived as “pure emanations” of the Dao. The names of the Three Purities are the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi tianzun/ 元始天尊), the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure (Lingbao tianzun/ 灵宝天尊), and the Celestial Worthy of the Dao and Inner Power (Daode tianzun/ 道德天尊). This short paper is a formal and iconographic analysis of a hanging scroll of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning.
The hanging scroll is believed to be produced between the

He has a mandorla shaped halo, which is outlined by flames and swirling clouds. The Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning and his mandorla halo occupies two-thirds of the entire scroll. At the top part of the halo writes “元始天尊,” the Chinese name of the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning. In the halo, there are ten tiny human figures, five in each side, who are also seated cross-legged and with round halos in the back. The mandorla halo is positioned against a highly saturated blue background with billowing clouds, which also suggests the scene takes place in the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning's celestial realm. The huge halo is believed as the symbol of Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning's sacred nature. In some texts, there is even a suggestion that the halo is his outward spiritual

The main figure's magical hand gesture points out that he is a Daoist or a Buddhist deity. Evidence, such as all of the figures are wearing golden crowns and traditional Chinese robes rather than Indian style robes, they all have beard, and the attendants holding hu, suggest the figures in this scroll relate to Daoism this Chinese religion. In addition, comparing with the images of Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure which are more commonly seen as holding a Ruyi (如意) scepter, and images of Celestial Worthy of the Dao and Inner Power which are normally holding a fan, the figure of Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning in Daoism art forms is often holding a circular object in his hand, the Pearl of Chaotic Primordiality (hunyuan baozhu/ 混元宝珠), which represents unity. In this scroll, there is a small sphere object in the main figure's right hand, which is believed as the