Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1480-1566 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:incised, fahua,
Subjects:attendant deity
Dimensions:Length: 21 centimetres Width: 23 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain tile with ‘fahua’ decoration. This square porcelain tile has stepped edges with indented rounded corners. Three central deities are portrayed with raised clay outlines, baked almost entirely in the biscuit, and the faces and hands of the other figures are similarly fired. These figures are depicted against an ink-blue ground with added yellow, turquoise and dark aubergine enamels in the ‘fahua’ style. Incised details are added, such as lines indicating the scales on the armour and ‘ruyi’ motifs on the fans. A Daoist god with a halo is seated on a large rectangular stool, wearing an elaborate flat-top crown with beading and long robes. One of his attendants holds a canopy over him and the other holds a scroll. Lesser crowned deities, similarly dressed in luxurious robes, seated on lower round stools with textile coverings, flank him. On either side of the three deities are a civil and military official. At the bottom of the picture a man emerges from waves, wearing a feather cape and holding a sword, and another approaches, dressed in armour carrying what may be a mace. In the upper corners are cloud scrolls and fans.
IMG
![图片[1]-tile BM-1937-0716.95-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00272319_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The three main figures may be identified as the ‘San Guan Da Di’ [Three Official Great Primordial Rulers], popular Daoist stellar deities, also known as the controllers of Heaven, Earth and Water. They are revered as a source of absolution and protection. In the middle is Tian Guan, who is only outranked by the Jade Emperor himself; the controller of Heaven, he bestows happiness, freedom and prosperity. Shui Guan is on our left; the controller of Water, he is able to free people from an unhappy destiny. Di Guan on the right is the controller of the Earth, judge of humanity’s sins and granter of remission. The three figures holding scrolls may be their recorders, while the figures at the bottom perhaps represent water and earth. An illuminated Daoist scripture, dated 1469, is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Its frontispiece shows a similar arrangement and depiction of figures painted in gold and pale blue pigment on indigo paper.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:incised, fahua,
Subjects:attendant deity
Dimensions:Length: 21 centimetres Width: 23 centimetres
Description:
Porcelain tile with ‘fahua’ decoration. This square porcelain tile has stepped edges with indented rounded corners. Three central deities are portrayed with raised clay outlines, baked almost entirely in the biscuit, and the faces and hands of the other figures are similarly fired. These figures are depicted against an ink-blue ground with added yellow, turquoise and dark aubergine enamels in the ‘fahua’ style. Incised details are added, such as lines indicating the scales on the armour and ‘ruyi’ motifs on the fans. A Daoist god with a halo is seated on a large rectangular stool, wearing an elaborate flat-top crown with beading and long robes. One of his attendants holds a canopy over him and the other holds a scroll. Lesser crowned deities, similarly dressed in luxurious robes, seated on lower round stools with textile coverings, flank him. On either side of the three deities are a civil and military official. At the bottom of the picture a man emerges from waves, wearing a feather cape and holding a sword, and another approaches, dressed in armour carrying what may be a mace. In the upper corners are cloud scrolls and fans.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The three main figures may be identified as the ‘San Guan Da Di’ [Three Official Great Primordial Rulers], popular Daoist stellar deities, also known as the controllers of Heaven, Earth and Water. They are revered as a source of absolution and protection. In the middle is Tian Guan, who is only outranked by the Jade Emperor himself; the controller of Heaven, he bestows happiness, freedom and prosperity. Shui Guan is on our left; the controller of Water, he is able to free people from an unhappy destiny. Di Guan on the right is the controller of the Earth, judge of humanity’s sins and granter of remission. The three figures holding scrolls may be their recorders, while the figures at the bottom perhaps represent water and earth. An illuminated Daoist scripture, dated 1469, is in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Its frontispiece shows a similar arrangement and depiction of figures painted in gold and pale blue pigment on indigo paper.
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