Burying the placenta, C16 Chinese painted book illustration

This painted illustration, headed 'Human placenta', comes from Buyi Lei Gong paozhi bianlan (Supplement to Lei Gong's Guide to the Preparation of Drugs), edition of 1591 (19th year of the Wanli reign period of the Ming dynasty). It is a fine example of Ming polychrome book art.

The painting depicts the widespread custom of burying the placenta. Framed in the window of her house, we see a woman reclining in bed cradling her newborn child in her arms. Her gaze draws ours towards the two other figures in the composition: another woman who is carrying out a chamber pot containing the placenta, and a man who is digging a hole to receive it.

Picture heading: Human placenta