Ivory statue of the deity Shen Nung

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ivory statue depicting the deity Shen Nung, seated on a goat, signed Masahisa, Japanese, 1871-1900

Shen Nung is known within Chinese mythology as the ‘Divine Farmer’. He taught the ancient Chinese the practice of agriculture. He is also known as the Father of Chinese medicine. Shen Nung is credited with the discovery of hundreds of medicinal herbs. He is part-mythical figure and part-emperor. Shen Nung is thought to have ruled China about 5000 years ago. This statue of Shen Nung (also known as Shennong) depicts him seated on a goat with a rolled scroll in his hand. It is made from ivory with tortoiseshell and mother of pearl decorations. He is depicted as a ‘man of the earth’ with a leaf cloak and hat. The statue is signed Masahisa.

Details

Category:
Asian Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A642975
Materials:
ivory, tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl
Measurements:
overall: 150 mm x 70 mm x 50 mm, .34kg
type:
statue