The waterpot is molded in the shape of carps leaping out of the water. It is covered in a bright turquoise-glaze.
The waterpot is molded in the shape of carps leaping out of the water. It is covered in a bright turquoise-glaze.
There is an old Chinese legend about a carp which changes into a dragon and swims up a waterfall on its way to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, thus becoming one of the images of the scholar who pursues his studies overcoming all hardships. The subject is also associated with the rebus yuhualong, ‘fish transforming into dragon’, which implies the wish for success in the civil service examinations.
This charming object was originally intended for the scholar’s desk. It would have been used as a water container for wetting calligraphy brushes. Water was needed to dissolve the ink, so containers and droppers were also part of the paraphernalia used by the Chinese literati in their studies. Water pots came in a myriad of forms and sizes. Shapes and decorations were often inspired by religion, myths or nature serving as an inspiration for poetry or calligraphy.
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