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Q1. When
did the snuff bottle become the vogue? |
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A1. It became the vogue from Qing Dynasty and its ancestor is the
gallipot. |
Q2. What
are the functions of the snuff bottle?
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A2. It was used for refreshing in ancient times. The civil and military
officials would smoke the snuff bottle for refreshing when they were tired and
out of spirits in the court. |
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Q3. Besides
Qing Dynasty, is there any work similar to boat-shaped olive-stone carving in
the other dynasties? |
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A3. Yes, there have been the similar works ever since Ming Dynasty
(Manchurian). |
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Q4. What are the functions of Nine Dragon Screen used by the imperial
families of Ming and Qing Dynasties? |
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A4.Nine Dragon Screen. Nine Dragon Screen was used for prevention of
hallway brake and road brake. |
Q5. When
did the earliest Scriptures on Talipot Palm start?
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A5. It started from the pilgrimage of Xuanzang(Tang Sanzang), an eminent
monk of Tang Dynasty. |
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Q6. With
regard to civil Officials’ portrait, I’d like to consult the curator “who were
the ancient famous civil officials?” |
A6. The
civil officials include Wen Tianxiang and Qu Yuan, etc. Officials’
portraits are arranged as “the upper are those of Ming Dynasty, while, the
lower are those of Qing Dynasty” (there was no camera in ancient time, thus
charcoal drawing was used to draw the persons vividly, wherever you go, the
eyes of persons in the picture will follows you, just like alive persons, which
is very lifelike!)
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Q7. What do the animals on the Nanyang Jadeite Dragon Imperial
Carriage stand for? Are there any particular meanings of the numbers of the
animals? |
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A7. Jadeite dragon stands for auspiciousness,
jadeite phoenix stands for good luck and bat stands for happiness. |
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Q8. Are the precious stones on the Datang Town Copper Horse
Mounted with Jewelries only for decoration? Are there any other meanings? |
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A8. The rear carriage was the tools for emperors to ride instead
of walking in town, thus it looks small on a whole. When the emperors wanted to go out in a grand scene, they
could choose other large-scale carriages. The bells on it were used to suppress
the horse, since sometimes its spirit would free from the body. |
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Q9. Why were the dragon robes worn by the
celestial worthies with four claws? Why didn’t they wear embroidered robes? |
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A9. Because dragons of that time were considered
with four claws and four claws had special significance in that time. The
celestial worthy didn’t wear embroidered robes since dragons constrained snakes
and were respected. |
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Q10. Whether the
three-inch “golden lotuses” with different patterns represent women’s different
statuses? |
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A10. In ancient China, there were “golden
lotuses” worn by the missy (3 inches), “silver lotuses” worn by the maidservant
(3-4 inches) and “copper lotuses” (5-7 inches) worn by the coolie (so shoes
with different patterns and sizes represented women’s different statuses). |
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Q11. Who had the
strongest leadership in the porcelain of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea? |
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A11. The Jade Emperor in
the porcelain of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea had the strongest leadership. |
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Q12. Could everyone in ancient time use the
melon-shaped vase? |
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A12. It was a utensil specially used by Emperor Kangxi. |
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Q13. Is there any
special mean to use the enamel hot pot?
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A13. The enamel hot
pot is filled with charcoal, although the hot pot is made of porcelain, the
central section of its cover is made of copper. |
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Q14. Is the enamel hot
pot used by the noblemen or by others? |
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A14. Only the men of
wealth could use the enamel hot pot; common people were unlikely to have it. |
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Q15. In the porcelain
Six-armed Avalokitesvara Vanquishing Flood Dragon, why was that dragon
fastened? Were there any profound meanings or stories behind? |
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A15. Because that dragon was doing its duty on
the sea floor to keep the sea water as high as it was and prevent against sea
water in flood. The flood dragon was punished by Avalokitesvara since it
violated the divine law. The most special parts in the porcelain of Six-armed
Avalokitesvara Vanquishing Flood Dragon was the chain, which was neither iron
chain nor copper chain but an earth chain to fasten the dragon. Avalokitesvara
held a dragon ball in his hand and said to the flood dragon that he would hand
the dragon ball to it if it was docile. Avalokitesvara also held a bell in his
hand, since he could collect the flood dragon’s soul if he jingled the bell,
which would make the flood dragon docile. |
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Q16. Was the Engraved Porcelain
Yellow-ground Ruyi a tool or a simple ornament? |
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A16. Ruyi was used as “without melding”
initially. |
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Q17. Was Ruyi owned by everyone or the noblemen
with higher power? |
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A17. In ancient times, only the men of wealth
and officials could use Ruyi. |
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Q18. What were the functions of the melon-shaped
vase?
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A18. The melon-shaped
vase was used for decoration and ornament due to its special style. |
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Q19. Did the gold or
copper line graphs embroidered on the dragon robe stand
for special significance? |
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A19. Yes, stars stood for brightness, mountain
stood for steadiness, alga stood for cleanliness and fire stood for shininess
(imperial throne). |
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Q20. Is there any
special significance stood for by the melon-shaped vase? |
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A20. The melon-shaped
vase was used by Emperor Kangxi for decoration and ornament, which stood for
having many sons and grandsons. |
