Chinese Porcelain Plaque from the Republic Period attributed to Cheng. Fuqing. Depicting Yaoji. She is the goddess of the Wushan mountains. With title and attribution upper right. In a rosemary wood frame. 

Condition: Good. 

Overall: 19 1/4 x 14 1/2 x 1 in. 

Sight: 11 1/2 x 8 3/8 in. 

#3430 . 

Yaoji (translated literally as “Princess Beautiful Jade”) is a Chinese goddess of Wu Mountain. A shaman and master herbalist, Yaoji is considered responsible for the presence of many medicinal herbs on Earth, as well as a protective weather goddess who raises and soothes storms. Some sources say that she was a daughter of the Yan Emperor, while later ones incorporate her into the Daoist religion by making her a daughter of the Queen Mother of the West. Yaoji is most well known from two poems, “The Ode of Gaotang” and “The Ode of the Divine Maiden,” both of which are attributed to the late Warring States poet Song Yu. There are several different myths regarding her original purpose and intent, yet it is generally accepted that she represents the Goddess Peak (Shennu Feng) of Wu Mountain, which serves as the eastern gateway to the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. Yaoji resided in the Heavenly Palace but grew bored with her existence. One day, she descended to Earth accompanied by her entourage of Fairies. Together, they tamed and shaped the gorge, giving rise to the formation of mountains. As their work neared completion, Yaoji discovered her profound affection for the Wushan Peaks. She made the decision to establish a permanent residence there, alongside her Fairy entourage. Eventually, she herself transformed into one of the peaks, known as Goddess Mountain. It is believed that the remaining peaks may also be transformed Fairies.

Good.