

Altar piece, one of an altar set of the Eight Buddhist Emblems (ba ji xiang). Depicts the Victory Banner mounted on a lotus pedestal, constructed in two detachable parts. The lotus pedestal consists of a platform surrounded by multi-tiered overlapping lotus petals, raised on a tall stem embellished with four foliate scrolls, set atop a domed embellished base with sea waves, bands of cloud motifs and bosses, and a row of recurved petals at the bottom. The Victory Banner is sometimes represented as a canopy resembling a parasol. It symbolises the victory of the Buddha's teaching over ignorance and evil. Carved wood covered with red lacquer and gold pigment.