| Transcript |
- 97 Miniature hares
glazed porcelaneous ware, I. 3 cm
Northern Song/Jin period, 12th-13th centuries
FMN
Miniature hares in the round rest on aflat rectangular base, covered with a white glaze with eyes and some features tinted iron brown.
98 Miniature sculptures
glazed porcelaneous ware,
ht. 3.4 cm, 6.2 cm and 3.3 cm
Northern Song/Jin period, 11th-12th centuries
JMH and FMN
Miniature sculptures of seated baby, horse and rider, and baby in a chair were probably made as toys for children. Although crudely made, they possess a cer�tain charm. They may have come from the kiln site at Boshan Dajie in the city of Zibo in Shandong province. For similar miniatures see Wenwu, No. 9,1987, pages 11-32.
99 Frog-shaped whistles glazed earthenware, I. 6.3 cm and 4.8 cm Northern Song/Jin period, 11th-12th centuries JMH and FMN
These small whistles in the shape of frogs with small holes were made as toys for children. For a mould of a similar frog see Wenwu, No. 9,1987, page 15, illustra�tion 14. These may also have come from the Zibo kilns.
100 Nestorian crosses
bronze, I. 3.3 cm, 4.5 cm, 6.2 cm and 4.2 cm Song/Yuan period, 11 th-14th centuries FMN and ARM Nestorian crosses were worn as a religious symbol and were also used as a personal seal by Nestorian Christians living in China at this time. The swastika sign, on the second seal from left, symbolized bright�ness. The Nestorian Christian faith was originally intro�duced from Persia to China during the Tang dynasty (618-907) by way of the Silk Road. It experienced a revival during the Mongol Yuan dynasty.
101 Buddhist Sutra Mahaparinirvana Sutra 3rd scroll silk-covered woodblock printed books Southern Song/Yuan period, 13th-14th centuries ARM*
The custom of carving woodblocks to print books came into use after the middle years of the Tang dynasty (618-907). A great many official and religious books were printed from Song to Qing times and numerous examples have survived. The finely printed sutra illustrated here has its original silk cover. The frontispiece shows a Dvarapala figure.
102 Buddhist Sutra (detail) dated 1409
woodblock printed book
Ming dynasty, 1368-1644 FMN
This woodblock printed sutra dated to 1409 of Emperor
Yongle�s reign has a frontispiece (illustrated here) of
Usnisavijaya, the Goddess of Victory. She sits on a
lotus throne in a stupa niche, has three heads and four
pairs of arms holding various objects: a double vajra, a
noose (to bind all evil and to pull souls from the ocean of illusion), an ambrosia vase, a small Buddha statue, a bow and arrow, and the remaining arms have various mudra gestures. The depiction of this particular deity shows the continuing influence of Tibetan Buddhism in China, which was previously patronized by the Mongol emperors (1271-1368).
103 Sutra
silk-covered, woodblock printed book Ming dynasty, 1368-1644 ARM*
At the beginning of this sutra is a woodcut illustrating the �Three Teachings�. At its centre is the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, with his disciples, Ananda and Kasyapa and two Bodhisattvas. The two seated figures in Chinese robes appear to be Confucius on the left and Laozi on the right. Depicting the founders of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism together became a popular theme for the artist in the Southern Song period as a response to certain aspects of the Neo- Confucianism of Zhu Xi. The blending of thought from the three religions was further emphasized by the Ming philosopher, Wang Yangming. Here the theme has been adopted but placed in a Buddhist context, with Sakyamuni found in the centre.
104 Covered box
carved cinnabar lacquer, d. 6.5 cm Ming dynasty, 15th-16th centuries arm Lid and bottom of round covered box of carved red lacquer have identical decoration of large peony sur�rounded by deeply carved leaves on yellow ground. Interior is of black lacquer.
105 Vase
stoneware, Longquan ware, ht. 18.5 cm
Ming dynasty, 1368-1644
ARM
Vase rising from splayed foot, oval-shaped body, long neck with flaring mouth, covered by celadon glaze. Body is decorated with two large different flowers deeply incised on either side. Neck with incised floral patterns. Incised bands below mouth, at shoulder and on splayed foot.
106 Funerary offering plates glazed earthenware, d. 10.7 cm Ming dynasty, 1368-1644 JMH
These three crude plates of blue-glazed earthenware with foliated rims were made for special use in the tomb to hold food offered to the spirit of the deceased.
107 Archway model
glazed earthenware, ht. 16.8 cm
Ming dynasty, 1368-1644 FMN
Model of archway (pailou) which would havabeen part
of a set of miniature architectural structures making up
a traditional courtyard home to be placed in the tomb.
Ancient Chinese homes would have had this type of
gateway at the entrance leading to the courtyard.
|
|---|
