Brushpot
1700-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This brushpot is decorated with an image of Kui Xing, the God of Literature, standing on one leg on the head of a mythical creature called Ao. Kui Xing holds a writing brush in his right hand and a measure of grain (dou) in his left hand. The measure represents a container for wisdom and inspiration.
The traditions says that Kui Xing, having passed first at the imperial examination, was not awarded the golden rose usually given to the best candidate due to his ugliness. Humiliated, he threw himself in a river where he was saved by a water monster.
Kui Xing is worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations, and dreaming of him the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (zhangyuan), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the ao design. Representations of Kui Xing and Ao are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the imperial examinations.
The traditions says that Kui Xing, having passed first at the imperial examination, was not awarded the golden rose usually given to the best candidate due to his ugliness. Humiliated, he threw himself in a river where he was saved by a water monster.
Kui Xing is worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations, and dreaming of him the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (zhangyuan), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the ao design. Representations of Kui Xing and Ao are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the imperial examinations.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and red |
| Brief description | Porcelain brushpot painted in underglaze blue and red with Kui Xing, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign, ca. 1700-20 |
| Physical description | Porcelain brushpot painted in underglaze blue and red with a scene representing the god-star Kui Xing flying above waves; a lozenge-shaped mark is painted in underglaze blue on the base |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | A lozenge with ribbon on the base |
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This brushpot is decorated with an image of Kui Xing, the God of Literature, standing on one leg on the head of a mythical creature called Ao. Kui Xing holds a writing brush in his right hand and a measure of grain (dou) in his left hand. The measure represents a container for wisdom and inspiration. The traditions says that Kui Xing, having passed first at the imperial examination, was not awarded the golden rose usually given to the best candidate due to his ugliness. Humiliated, he threw himself in a river where he was saved by a water monster. Kui Xing is worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations, and dreaming of him the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (zhangyuan), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the ao design. Representations of Kui Xing and Ao are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the imperial examinations. |
| Bibliographic reference | Bushell, Chinese Art, fig 59 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.976-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 21, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
