778 - Asia - China - Zhong Kui, the Ghost Hunter. A series of 8 original watercolors. Red and green watercolors over ink on thin handmade paper. Each with a calligraphic caption and signed “Chi Zhang” (?) above the red Hakan seal. China, 19th/20th century. Sheet dimensions: approx. 32 x 32 cm each.

Asia - China - Zhong Kui, the Ghost Hunter. A series of 8 original watercolors. Red and green watercolors over ink on thin handmade paper. Each with a calligraphic caption and signed “Chi Zhang” (?) above the red Hakan seal. China, 19th/20th century. Sheet dimensions: approx. 32 x 32 cm each. The legendary Chinese demon-slayer Zhong Kui was originally a young scholar who topped the civil service examination but was denied entry into government service by the emperor because of his ugliness. Zhong Kui is said to have taken his own life as a result. The King of Hell (or, according to another account, the emperor, who regretted his decision) subsequently granted him the rank of demon hunter with the mission of slaying malevolent spirits. Zhong Kui is depicted with a wild beard, large round eyes, and a thick red robe. The small demons and spirits are all colored green. — The thin handmade paper is mounted on slightly larger sheets, which are framed with mat boards; some are slightly browned and stained.