One Hundred Boys Panel Fragment

The boys in rows facing alternately left and right. Each boy standing atop a lotus flower, within a oval of leafy vines with one arm held up and grabbing hold of the vine. One hundred boys is a Chinese auspicious symbol that dates back to the Song dynasty. Children are a symbol of longevity, prosperity and well being. The Chinese famously prefer sons over daughters and abundance of them represents continuation of the family line. The 100 boys motif became so popular that it is included in manuals of embroidery design as early as the 17th century