Antique Chinese KoSometsuke 17C Porcelain Ming Transitional Rooster Rabbit Plate

Out of stock

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Condition Report: / / Overall Condition; Rimfritting and 2 hairlines. Size: 155x27mm

A very nicely decorated plate. A late Ming Ksometsuke porcelain dish,  Tianqi or Chongzhen Period 1621 – 1644.
Painted with a Rabbit, Rooster, butterflys near  a rock with Chrysanthemum.

Pictured in;
Butz, Herbertm, M. & Kawahara (1996). Chinesische Porzellane des 17. Jahrhunderts für Japan Sammlung Georg Weishaupt, Berlin. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Berlin, page 44-45
Chinesische Porzellane des 17. Jahrhunderts für Japan Sammlung Georg Weishaupt, Berlin ( see pictures )

Symbolism:

Fungus

(Sacred – lingzhi) – immortality and longevity.

Cockerel

The cockerel or rooster is an honored creature in China. It is one of the twelve animals forming the Chinese zodiac. Out of reverence, the cockerel in contrast to hens, was not killed for meat. Cockerels are valued for working hard to eat up insect pests. They are seen as fierce-some, wise, courageous, benevolent and loyal.

Rabbit

Is a symbol of longevity and East. The hare in China is not generally distinguished from its close relative the rabbit, so ‘hare’ and ‘rabbit’ are used interchangeably. The hare has its place in the astrological zodiac of twelve animals. It is associated with the moon, the Jade Rabbit. A red hare is an auspicious animal and appears when rule is virtuous. There are legends that a hare becomes pregnant by gazing at the moon or just licking the fur of the female. As such a rabbit/hare is associated with bearing many children.

Stone

Stones represent permanence and stability so it is not surprising that they symbolize longevity. A picture showing a rocky promontory over sea is often an allusion to the Isles of the Blessed, home to the immortals, in the East. The character for stone is represented by a picture of a square stone falling off a cliff. From ancient times special stones, perhaps because of their shape, were considered sacred and received sacrifices for life-giving rain. Stones placed in front of buildings were placed to block the path of evil spirits, sometimes these stones originated from the sacred mountain Taishan and some have the inscription 石敢挡 shí gǎn dǎng ‘stone obstructs’. Perhaps because of this ancient belief many official buildings have stone lions in front of them. Stone figures line the important Spirit Way to the burial sites of eminent people.

Chrysanthemum

One of the “Four flowers of the Season” as a symbol of the autumn, the ninth month and symbol of joviality, first mentioned in the Book of Rites written in the Zhou dynasty. The flower has come to symbolize easy life after retirement as reflected by the Song dynasty Scholar Zhou Dunyi (1017-1073) who regarded it as “the flower of scholarship and loneliness”. Chrysanthemum is also a well-known herb used to prolong life. The petals and leaves are used to make wine and medicine. The early morning dew, collected from the flowers, was thought to help with longevity.

Moon

The moon is chiefly associated with yin compared to the sun that is yang. From this assignment everything ‘yin’ is also considered to be associated with the moon: female; the Empress; cool and darkness. Pearls are considered to have come from the moon.