Dongfang Shuo Stealing the Peaches of Longevity

The tapestry known as Dongfang Shuo Stealing the Peaches of Longevity is a significant example of Chinese kesi, or cut silk tapestry. This art form, originating in China, is characterized by its fine silk texture, light weight, and perfect reversibility.1

The story depicted on the tapestry relates to Chinese Daoist mythology, specifically the pantao, or peach of immortality, which grew in the garden of Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West. These peaches ripened every 3,000 years and were part of a banquet attended by the Eight Immortals. The pantao was sometimes presented to favored mortals, such as Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty.23

Chinese tapestries like this often imitated paintings and were mounted as scrolls. While early kesi from the Tang dynasty featured simpler patterns, later periods, such as the Ming and Qing dynasties, saw the use of richer designs and philosophical or religious themes.1