Ji Gong was a Buddhist monk who purportedly possessed supernatural powers, which he used to help the poor and stand up to injustice. However, he was also known for his wild and eccentric behavior, and for violating Buddhist monastic rules by consuming alcohol and meat. Nevertheless Ji Gong has become a folk hero and a minor deity in China. The carver used the colors in this piece of Hetian jade to create an amusing impression of Ji Gong’s face. The carving is modern and entered the Lowlands-collection from Shanghai in 2014. Height 4.4 cm. Width 1.8 cm. Depth 0.9 cm.