Creative Commons License
Cabbages and Butterflies
(China )
In China, the butterfly can be a symbol of happiness in marriage. This comes from a story told by the Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi [Chuang-tzu] in which a young student chases a butterfly into the garden of a retired official. There, he sees the official's daughter and is so taken with her beauty and charm that he vows to dedicate himself to his work so that he may one day marry her. His hard work not only wins him his bride but also results in his obtaining a high-ranking position.
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Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Panama-Pacific International Exposition, China Pavilion, San Francisco, 1915 [no. 163]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1915, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
China (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 35 1/8 x W: 21 15/16 in. (89.2 x 55.8 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1915
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
35.25