Antique Qing Dynasty Chinese Character Blessing Couplet Poem Panels Plaques 53"

Description

Beautiful pair of antique Chinese wooden couplet wall plaques dating to the late Qing Dynasty. Hand-carved with traditional Chinese gold calligraphy and red lacquer, these panels were a birthday gift given by a person named Tingjing Zhang 張廷
敬 to his in-laws. PDF document showing translations below is available - if interested.

1.Right side couplet; 逍遙杖履地⾏仙：Carefree, with staff and sandals — an earth-roaming immortal.

2. Left side couplet; 真率鬚眉洛下⽼：Frank and unpretentious—bearded elder of
Luoyang

In the right side couplet, 地⾏仙 “Earth-walking immortal” is a Chinese term originating from Buddhist scriptures. In literature, it associates with longevity. So the poem written on the couplets conveys the following meanings:
• Carefree yet dignified.
• Earthly yet transcendent.
• Sincere, rooted in place.

1.尊姻：Honorable In-Laws
2.翁⺟述林：Mother-in-law Shulin
3.翁府林記：Father-in-law Linji

1.⽼：elderly
2.⼤孺⼈:an archaic Chinese term primarily referring to the primary wife in traditional households
3.六五⼗: “six five ten”, it could mean sixty and fifty
4.双寿:typically refers to a married couple celebrating their birthdays or anniversaries together. It can also broadly signify advanced age and longevity, with festive and auspicious connotations.

1.姻弟: a humble term used between peers in a marriage relationship (such as brothers-in-law or relatives).This term is common in ancient or traditional kinship exchanges, used to express politeness and closeness.
2.張廷敬: Zhang Tingjing

1.頓⾸拜: 頓⾸ means to kneeling and bowing one's head to the ground immediately before rising, expressing respect or gratitude. 拜 signifies kneeling in worship. Together, it becomes a highly respectful traditional closing salutation and etiquette in letter writing.
2.祝: to express good wishes.

Condition

Gentle Wear, fading to lacquer / finish loss, splitting.

Dimensions

8.5" x 3.5" x 53.25" (Width x Depth x Height)