This interesting bue and white Moon flask is finely painted in dark cobalt blue with roundels of warriors riding horses with flags in hand. Two flags carry the Yin Yang symbol. The sides have dragons with 4 claws amongst ruyi/clouds. The body is of circular flattened form, fitted with a narrow cylindrical neck with flanking applied dragon-shaped handles.

Kangxi mark at the base.

This beautiful flask dates to the 19th century.

Overall Condition; As good as perfect, the dragon handles have minimal fritting and firing flaw lines. Size 254x170mm HxD approx.

Dragon

The dragon is the mightiest of creatures, master of rain and water and usually good-natured. It has a prestigious place in the astrological years and serves as a symbol principally of the Emperor and therefore the top of the pyramid of animals. When shown with a phoenix it represents Emperor and Empress – the foremost married couple; with a phoenix the two together represent ‘animals and birds’ and so wildlife in general. Ancient belief ties the dragon to the bringing of life-giving rain in the form of master of the storm clouds. In appearance it is more serpent-like than the Western version and is usually portrayed among the clouds.

Yin and Yang

Yin and Yang – the Mystic Dual Principle in Nature that represents the inter-action of opposites in nature. The light portion, Yang, is male, heaven, sun, light, vigor, penetration, dragon, monad, azure color, mountains and odd numbers. The dark half, Yin, represents the female, earth, moon, dark, quiescence, absorption, tiger, orange color, duad, valleys and even numbers.

Horse

Horses as pasture animals feature more in ancient times when the center of civilization was further north around the Yellow River. Horses came from central Asia, Mongolia and Tibet. In the ancient Yi Jing the horse represents ’yin’ compared to the dragon ‘yang’. The god of war Guan yu (Guan di) rode a red-haired horse. Horses are associated with the element metal and west. In symbolism a horse laden with goods is a wish for a government post. It often also indicates swiftness. A monkey hóu on horse back expresses the wish for promotion quickly as hóu is a noble rank and mǎ shǎng ‘on horseback’ is a metaphor for ‘arrive quickly’. The horse occupies the position of South on the Zodiac Compass.

Source: Stallard, R. Chinasage: All about China. Retrieved from the Chinasage website.

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