Plate
Ming dynasty, Hongwu period (1368–98), Jingdezhen

Underglaze-blue decoration
Diam. 20 cm

Motifs (edge to centre)
Key-fret
Chrysanthemum scrolls
Lotus spray

碟
明洪武，1368–98年，景德鎮
青花
直徑20厘米

紋飾（外至內）
回紋
菊花紋
蓮花紋

Lotus
The Chinese have two words for lotus, lian and he, meaning ‘to bind together’ and ‘harmony’. The lotus became a significant decorative theme for ceramics as early as the North and South dynasties. Scenes of a lotus pond with birds or other plants were quite popular. The literati Zhou Dunyi praised the lotus ‘for growing from the mud without leaving a stain’. The lotus also signified purity and enlightenment in Buddhism, of which the Yuan court was a major patron. Moreover, lotus petals inspired the lobed rims that first emerged on bronze mirrors during the Tang dynasty. In the Yuan dynasty, the lotus petals were altered to a rectangular format and served as the frame for ornamental designs—possibly influenced by the arched shape in decorative sections of Islamic art.

蓮花
蓮又稱荷，兩個名稱分別象徵連結與和諧。 早於南北朝，蓮花已是常見的陶器紋飾， 元朝瓷器上，蓮池花鳥景觀甚為普遍。蓮花受歷代文人所愛，如周敦頤謂蓮「出淤泥而不染」。而元室信奉佛教，佛教也以蓮之清淨、脫俗作為象徵。另外，蓮瓣設計早見於唐代銅鏡邊飾。元朝時蓮瓣改作矩形設計， 作為紋飾設計的邊框，學界認為此或受伊斯蘭尖拱裝飾的影響。

Cupstand
Ming dynasty, Hongwu period (1368–98), Jingdezhen

Underglaze-blue decoration
Diam. 20 cm

Motifs (edge to centre)
Scrolls on foliated rim
Lotus sprays
Lotus scrolls
Key-fret
Lotus flower head

盞托
明洪武，1368–98年，景德鎮
青花
直徑20厘米

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紋飾（外至內）
卷草紋花口
蓮花紋
蓮花紋
回紋
蓮花紋

Eight Buddhist emblems
As a major patron of Tibetan Buddhism, Yuan dynasty porcelains included numerous Buddhist elements and symbols. Generally rendered in eight items, known as ‘The Eight Treasures’, the individual items were arranged flexibly and without any strict order, often rendered with eight-lobed rims or lotus petals. Common elements include the Dharma wheel, Conch shell, Victory banner, Parasol, Lotus flower, Treasure vase, Pair of fish and Endless knot. Later in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the shape of the Eight Treasures became more standardised.

八寶
元室信奉佛教，不少瓷器採用佛教的象徵物作紋飾，常見者共八種，故稱八寶，多裝載於蓮瓣邊飾或框架中。常見元素包括法輪、 法螺、法幢、寶傘、蓮花、寶瓶、雙魚、盤長。然而，元代八寶的內容、排列方式並沒準則，自明清開始，其形制方始固定。

Bowl
Ming dynasty, Zhengtong period (1436–49), Jingdezhen

Underglaze-blue decoration
Diam. 38 cm

碗
明正統，1436–49年，景德鎮
青花
直徑38厘米

Interior

The bowl is set with immortal landscapes (仙山樓閣) consisting of symbolic motifs. The distant steep peaks shrouded in clouds set the scene in a transcendent realm. A pavilion stands, surrounded by a garden with pine and lingzhi fungus, symbolising longevity, and plantain and peony. Separated by a band of wave patterns, the central medallion is a lion playing with a beribboned brocade ball, with symbolic meanings related to fertility. The rim is framed by coin patterns.

Exterior
The immortal landscape is set with propitious plants such as peonies and plantains, as well as auspicious animals qilins and lions, wrapped by key-fret and lotus petal panels on the top and the bottom.