Our Most Recently Added Item - March 2022 (Cloisonne Enamel)

 

Description:

A fine, old cloisonne enamel incense burner.

Height: 19cm

To view our catalogue, please visit www.emperorsantique.com.

Chinese History On A ‘Dragon’ Dice Bowl (Xuande Emperor)

Enjoyed this brief, yet informative video by Cindy Qi on this rare blue and white 'dragon' 'dice' bowl from the Ming Dynasty. It exemplifies the celebrated aesthetics of blue and white porcelain produced during the Xuande period (1425-35). This present bowl comes from the collection of Leon and Max Friedman, aviation pioneers who later established an automobile empire in China in the early 20th century.

What are your thoughts on this piece?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow7VkTyYRUs

Young Phoenix Pang Tong (The Three Kingdoms)

 

Young Phoenix Pang Tong had lent his assistance during the battle at the Red Cliff when he tricked Cao Cao into chaining his boats together with metal chains and facilitated the success of the fire attack.

Pang Tong offered his service to Liu Bei when he was turned down by Sun Quan. Unfortunately, he was merely offered the post of Leiyang magistrate as he was perceived as 'unattractive.' In retaliation, Pang Tong spent his days drinking and sleeping upon arriving in Leiyang.

One day, Zhang Fei dropped by for an inspection and reprimanded Pang Tong for drinking and neglecting his official duties. Pang Tong pointed out that given the fact his role was too insignificant given that he was able to easily defeat Cao Cao and Sun Quan in the past. He proved his point by settling all the arrears of the 100 days (since he had arrived) by midday.

Upon learning this, Liu Bei finally realised that Pang Tong had talent and appointed him Vice Commanding Advisor, much to Pang Tong's delight.

When the governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, sought Liu Bei's help to stop the invasion of Zhang Lu, Liu Bei and Pang Tong led 50,000 troops to the West Riverland. It was then that Cao Cao launched his attack on Dongwu too.

Liu Bei asked for the return of Jingzhou so he could join forces with Sun Quan to consolidate his defense against Cao Cao. He had also asked to borrow 40,000 well-trained soldiers and 10,000 hu of grain.

However, Liu Zhang only lent him 4,000 old and ill troops, and 10,000 hu of grain. Enraged, Liu Bei severed his ties with Liu Zhang. With the help of Pang Tong, he led his army to take possession of Fucheng, a city of military importance. He then continued his attack towards Luocheng, the entrance of the road to Chengdu.

It was around this time that Zhuge Liang sent a messenger to Liu Bei, warning him that Venus was approaching Luocheng, and suggested they put their attack on hold for the time being.

Pang Tong, however, chose to ignore the warning. Before departure, Pang Tong was thrown off his horse. Liu Bei quickly offered his horse to Pang Tong.

Pang Tong led his troops towards the mountain roads on the West, where he and his troops were attacked at Fallen Phoenix Slope. Pang Tong was killed in battle.

Liu Bei quickly retreated to his camp at Fucheng and sent his men to invite Zhuge Liang to join him at the West Riverland. Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun arrived at West Riverland to assist Liu Bei while Guan Yu stayed back to defend Jingzhou.

Liu Bei eventually took control of West Riverland, and became Princee of Zhanzhong. That formed a tripartite confrontation with Cao Cao and Sun Quan in control of other parts of the land.

- Compiled from The Three Kingdoms

Chinese Treasures Discovered Off The Belitung Island (Tang Dynasty)

 

70,000 Chinese ceramics (as well as luxurious objects of gold and silver) from a 1,000 year old Tang dynasty shipwreck being exhibited in New York at Asia Society😍 I must admit I was particularly taken by the dragon-head object with its Middle Eastern shape :p

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xzIwCfJZwk

Zhou Yu Pays a Double Penalty (The Three Kingdoms)

 

Zhou Yu was determined to take possession of Jingzhou. When he heard that Liu Bei's wife, Lady Gan, had passed away, he got the idea of sending someone to propose marriage. He then approached Sun Quan and suggested he pretend to marry his sister to Liu Bei. Sun Quan thought it was a good idea and agreed.

Sun Quan promptly sent someone to propose marriage to Liu Bei. Liu Bei immediately suspected that it was a ploy by Zhou Yu. Zhuge Liang told Liu Bei not to worry and assured him that he would send Zhao Yun to protect him. Zhuge Liang even gave Zhao Yun 3 clever schemes enclosed in 3 bags to ensure Liu Bei's safe return.

Zhao Yun first sent his 500 troops to the streets to buy all the things necessary for the wedding. They also spread the news that Liu Bei was marrying Sun Yuan's sister. When the news reached Sun Quan's mother, Dowager Marchioness, she was furious.

She confronted Sun Quan and he quickly assured her that the wedding was just a ruse to trick Liu Bei into coming to Dongwu and force him to return Jingzhou to them. His mother demanded to meet Liu Bei in person and would only agree to make him her son-in-law if she was satisfied with him.

The Dowager Marchioness was very satisfied with Liu Bei after meeting him, and consented to him marrying her daughter. A few days later, a wedding was conducted for Liu Bei and the princess.

The fictitious plot was made real. After the wedding, Zhou Yu set about making Liu Bei stay in Dongwu by indulging him in pleasure and fun. Liu Bei was so happy with his new married life that he gave no thought of returning to Jingzhou at the end of the year. It was then that Zhao Yun opened the second bag of plan. Upon reading it, he quickly informed Liu Bei that Cao Cao was leading his troops to attack Jingzhou.

Fearful that his in-laws wouldn't allow him to return to Jingzhou, he hatched a plan with his wife to give the excuse of an ancestral sacrifice on the river bank on New Year's Day and then secretly leave Dongwu.

Unfortunately, their plot was foiled when Zhou Yu gave chase as the couple secretly left the city. It was then that Liu Bei opened the third bag. After reading the message, Liu Bei convinced his wife that her brother and Zhou Yu wanted to harm him.

She immediately took charge and ordered the soldiers to back off, and the soldiers reluctantly let them pass. By the time the couple reached the river bank, Zhuge Liang already had boats prepared to receive Liu Bei. Unwilling to give up, Zhou Yu gave chase in his boat too.

Upon reaching the northern shore, they immediately abandoned the boat. Thankfully, Zhuge Liang has arranged for Guan Yu and Huang Zhong to set up an ambush, and Zhou Yu and his troops quickly fled back to their boat in panic. Liu Bei's soldiers taunted Zhou Yu from the shore, and Zhou Yu fainted in anger.

Refusing to give up, Zhou Yu once again mounted another attack on Jingzhou, and lost. Shortly after returning to Dongwu, Zhou Yu coughed blood and died of grief. Upon learning about his death, Zhuge Liang personally went to Dongwu to pay his respects, and wept openly at Zhou Yu's grave.

Just as Zhuge Liang was preparing to embark on his journey back to Jingzhou, a gentleman stopped him. It turned out to be Master Young Phoenix!

- Compiled from The Three Kingdoms

Metropolitan Museum Exhibition (Chinese Art and Culture)

 

The Metropolitan Museum's exhibition - "Another World Lies Beyond: Chinese Art and the Divine" was held from Aug 2019 to Jan 2020. It was a blend of Premodern China and images of the divine. From the humblest printed image of the Stove God, hung in the kitchen, to the most lavish ritual painting created for a Buddhist monastery, this exhibition presents a rich display of divine images and 3D sculptures of popular Chinese deities.

Joseph Scheier-Dolberg (Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang Associate Curator of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy) leads the tour, beginning in galleries devoted to Buddhist art. Arising Another gallery was devoted to the arts of Daoism, a native religion that draws on both ancient Chinese philosophy and popular religious practice. The final galleries were devoted to the divine presence in the home and in the countryside, as expressed in popular deities and fantastical creatures.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-oMW-L4GCQ

The Battle of The Red Cliff (The Three Kingdoms)

 

So, where exactly did the most famous battle in The Romance of The Three Kingdoms take place? Apparently, there has been varied views.

Su Dongpo of the Song Dynasty believed that the Red Cliff was the Chibi Rock in Huang prefacture. He even composed the famous poems 'Before the Red Cliff Rhapsody', 'After the Red Cliff Rhapsody' and 'Battle of Red Cliff.'

However, it is believed that the site of the Red Cliff (Chibi) is on the Southern bank of Yangtze River in the city of Puqi, Hubei province. The site is made up of 3 mountains - Chibi, Nanping and Jinluan mountains.

Many artifacts were unearthed there. For instance, iron hoops, iron nails and a copper mirror of the Eastern Han Dynasty were uncovered one metre underground at Chibi mountain, while in a brick coffin chamber of the Eastern Han Dynasty in Jinluan mountain, a trigger mechanism of a crossbow designed by Zhuge Liang was discovered.

According to the 'Notes from Jingzhou' by Sheng Hong, during the reign of Yuanjia in the Liu Song Dynasty, the tomb of Eastern Wu's general, Lu Meng, who had participated in the Battle of The Red Cliff, was uncovered in the Chibi mountain.

- Compiled from The Three Kingdoms