WenYongGe

1403～1424

Well

文雍閣典藏 Wenyong Pavilion Collection

Here is the description and features of this treasured piece from the Wen Yong Pavilion:

1. Shape Characteristics and Craft Difficulty
• Imitation of Bronze Vessel Shape: This vessel is inspired by the bronze round ding ritual utensils from the Shang and Zhou dynasties. It has a wide mouth, thick square lip, short neck, and a bulging belly, presenting a stable figure supported by three sturdy elephant leg-shaped feet.
• Large Ears Design: The most notable feature is the imposing "S"-shaped upright ears on both sides (soaring ears). The neck of the vessel is adorned with decorative knobs inspired by bronze artifacts, symbolizing national stability (drum) and enduring prosperity. Furthermore, "drumming" in ancient warfare and rituals symbolized boosting morale and warding off evil, hence carrying the expectation of exorcising malevolence and welcoming good fortune, along with a startling announcement.
• Ingeniously Crafted "Hollow" Technique: This porcelain piece is exceptionally large (68 cm in height and 63 cm in width). Even with modern advancements, such a giant porcelain piece is prone to collapse or deform in kiln fire due to its weight. The top artisans of Jingdezhen employed a highly complex forming technique—using "hollow" thin porcelain sheets for the large ears, the mouth of the furnace, the neck's knobs, and even the three feet at the bottom. This precise weight-reduction design successfully maintained the vessel's upright posture and prevented any tilt amid extremely high firing temperatures, representing the pinnacle of porcelain-making technology from the Yongle imperial kiln.

2. Color and Material of the Blue-and-white
• Imported "Suma Liqing" Material: This ding is entirely painted with the exclusive imported cobalt material from the Yongle and Xuande periods of the Ming dynasty called "Suma Liqing."
• Unique Visual Effects: Due to the high iron and low manganese characteristics of the Suma Liqing material, the blue-and-white color turns into a rich, vibrant indigo after firing, dazzling like a gemstone. It also naturally produces tiny deformations, densely clustered black-silver iron spots, and effects resembling ink diffusion and dripping on rice paper. The skilled artisans of that time cleverly utilized the diffusion characteristics of the material to vividly express the yin-yang interplay of the waves and the dynamic sense of the turbulent sea in their paintings. The white glaze on the inner surface of the vessel showcases the typical early Ming duck egg blue color.

3. Decorative Meaning: Unification of the Country, Eternal Stability
What is most striking about this vessel is its full-color decoration, with no blank spaces:
• Wave and Sea Pattern (Shoushan Fuhai Pattern): The vessel is painted with layers of turbulent waves crashing against the shore, and amidst the waves, steep and towering mountain rocks (Jiangya) stand tall.
• Political and Historical Significance:
• "Tide" and "Dynasty" sound alike, symbolizing the court and imperial authority.
• The surging sea waves represent the challenges of tumult, while the majestic mountains symbolize the unyielding authority of the emperor and stable rule.
• The combination of "mountain" and "sea," commonly known in folklore as "Shoushan Fuhai," implies auspicious meanings of "Longevity as the Southern Mountain and Blessings as the Eastern Sea." However, on royal utensils, it further represents the grand political ambition of an "eternally stable country" and "unification of the realm."

4. Historical Background and Imperial Legend
According to the Ming dynasty's Zhengde period document "Hongyi Lu," it states: "When Emperor Yongle was at the throne in the Feng Tian Gate, after settling on the throne, an inner attendant presented a fragrance burner shaped like mountains and rivers in front of the couch. The assembled civil and military officials, invited foreign ambassadors, and the crowd shouted in unison: 'It is stable!'"
This historical event perfectly resonates with the purpose of this blue-and-white ding furnace. When the Ming founder Zhu Di relocated the capital to Beijing and constructed the Forbidden City, he placed this fragrance burner decorated with mountains and rivers (Jiangya Hai Shui) before the imperial couch, using the image of the "ding" alongside the inner attendant's declaration of "stability (ding)!" to proclaim the stability of the Ming dynasty's realm and peace throughout the land.