Portrait of the First Mistress of Heaven – Divine Portraits project x Tree

This marks the third painting in our Divine Portraits project. Created by artist Tree, this artwork depicts the First Mistress of Heaven. As a youthful deity residing in the Heaven Palace [Thiên Phủ], the First Mistress is adorned in attire of red hue, symbolizing the Heaven Palace, while the backdrop showcases the celestial sky and clouds.

She is portrayed in the act of writing in her notebook, a scene befitting her two prominent responsibilities. The first involves assessing and selecting new thanh đồng (priests/priestesses), while the second entails aiding in prayers by conveying devotees’ requests to higher deities and ensuring their proper presentation. Her attire reflects the style of the Nguyễn dynasty, featuring a red Áo Tấc (five-paneled Tấc long shirt) adorned with intricate golden cloud patterns, complemented by a black Thường (long wrapping skirt). Atop her head rests a turban commonly worn by imperial women.

Regarding her accessories, in addition to the golden collar adorning her shoulders, she wears a pair of chrysanthemum earrings and a gem bracelet, along with the azure Ngọc Bội, a gem accessory typically worn on the upper part of the body. In this painting, the Ngọc Bội is bestowed upon her by her superiors in recognition of her meritorious services. The azure oval engraved gem is linked to a golden miniature Khánh, a musical instrument. The lower section is adorned with pearls and red coral beads.