Birthday hanging

清朝 繡壽帳

In ancient China it was customary for a group of colleagues or relatives to commission a large embroidery to celebrate an important person's birthday; it would be hung on a wall to be seen by the guests at a birthday banquet. Such embroideries contain long texts extolling the person's virtues and conveying wishes for longevity. At the top of this embroidered silk wall hanging can be seen the Three Star Gods---Fuxing, Luxing, and Shoulao---along with other immortals and with attendants. The central calligraphic panel conveys birthday wishes to the recipient, a high-ranking scholar. The calligraphy on the left lists the names of the students and friends of the scholar who collectively gave this wall hanging to him.