Embroidered banner depicting immortals

This embroidered banner was designed to be hung at a birthday party for elders. The image depicts a Daoist procession of gods and immortals as they travel through the ocean. Together their presence presents symbols of longevity, harmony, and prosperity.

At the bottom two dragon kings are shown seated on their chariots as though crossing the rolling waves of the ocean. In the middle ground, the man holding an ingot and a banana leaf is the god of wealth. Behind him on a lotus leaf are the immortals of harmony and unity holding their symbolic attributes—a lotus blossom and a box. Following them are two young immortals riding a ram-like mythical beast, respectively carrying lotus flowers and a peach basket, symbols of fertility and immortality. Above, five elders are accompanied by sacred cranes, one of whom presents a scroll with the Taiji diagram, which symbolizes the unity of the yin and yang forces.

Only two of the Eight Daoist Immortals can be seen here, indicating that this banner was once part of a pair or a set of panels. Judging by the left-facing figures, the piece would have been the farthest-right of the set. Inscriptions bearing the names of the immortals appear on the figures; the presence of a few incorrect characters indicates that the artisan was not completely familiar with the Daoist pantheon. Some deities are well known, others unfamiliar.