Page 130 - Ming_China_Courts_and_Contacts_1400_1450 Craig lunas

Plate 13.11 Porcelain ritual vessels, 18th–19th century. Height 14cm–27cm. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, C.526-1910,
C.17&A-1968, FE.99-1970, C.483-1910

that the urgent demand for ceramic ritual vessels from the caps and robes (Guanfu 冠服, juan 4–7), musical instruments (Yueqi
court to local levels led to the establishment of imperial 樂器, juan 8–9), insignia (Lubu 鹵簿, juan 10–12) and military objects
ceramic production in the early Ming dynasty. It also (Wubei 武備, juan 17–18). Each object is illustrated and described as
prompted technological improvements, as shown in the case to its appearance, dimensions, the materials it is made of, which
decoration it bears, the numbers of the particular object to be used
of the development of monochrome glazes in the early Ming during a certain ceremony and its actual use. For relevant studies
period. on the arrangements and content of the book, see Medley 1957–9.
Without this ceramic-oriented system we would not see 11 Chen Fang-mei 2005, 300–2. Hsieh Ming-liang 2006, 81–2. Sanli tu
the lovely outcome, which were Qianlong’s porcelain ritual 三禮圖 (20 juan) collection on illustrated ritual vessels was compiled
by Nie Chongyi 聶從義 (10th century). The present edition of Sanli
vessels; although there was also a big change again in tu is Chongjiao Sanli tu 重校三禮圖. See Nie Chongyi 1966. Xuanhe
Qianlong’s ritual vessel reform as presented in Huangchao liqi bogu tu 宣和博古圖 was compiled through 1111 to 1125 under the
tushi (Pl. 13.11). In addition, useful references from Joseon- commission of Emperor Huizong of Song (r. 1100–25), and featured
dynasty Korea would undoubtedly help us explore the illustrations of some 840 vessels and rubbings from the imperial
situation of early Ming ritual practice in the future. 36 collection. Although it is not a ritual book, it contains the study of
ancient bronze ritual vessels that Zhu Xi later adopted for the
ritual vessel examples in his ideal Sacrifice to Sages and thus
Notes broadly influenced the ritual vessel system in the East Asian region.
1 Cheng Shuguo 1998, ch. 2. Chang Wen-chang provides a detailed The present edition is edited by Wang Fu 王黻, Chong xiu Xuanhe
review of previous studies on rituals in the Tang and Song bogu tu 重修宣和博古圖 (Revised Xuanhe Illustrated Catalogue of
dynasties. Chang Wen-chang 2012, 1–44. Antiquities). See Wang Fu 1983. Tsai Meifen reminds us that the
2 Zhao Kesheng 2004–5, 54–7. debate on the choices of Sanli tu and Xuanhe bogu tu systems during
3 Fisher 1977; Huang Chin-hsin 1994; Zhao Kesheng 2008–12, 26–9. the early Yuan period. Tsai Meifen 2001, 230–3. Craig Clunas has
4 MS 51, 1315. noticed that printed copies of the Chong xiu Xuanhe bogu tu were
5 MS 51, 1315. See also a similar record in MSL Taizong shilu 43.4a widely circulated in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty; see
(2/6/丁亥). Clunas 2004, 97.
6 DMHD, 2715. 12 Da Ming huidian was submitted to the throne in 1497 and, after
7 According to Zhao Kesheng, the ritual reform of the Hongwu revision, officially issued and printed in 1509 in the Zhengde reign
emperor was eventually settled in around the tenth year of the (1506–21). It is thus also called Zhengde huidian 正德會典 (Collected
Hongwu reign. On early Ming ritual reform see Zhao Kesheng Statutes of the Zhengde Reign). The first version contained 180 juan, and
2004–5, 54–7. after two supplements were added during the Jiajing 嘉靖
8 Hsieh Yu-chen 1995, 14–18; Wang Guangyao 2010, 75–9. (1522–66) and Wanli 萬曆 (1573–1619) reigns, it reached its final size
9 Kun Gang 1991, 645. of 228 juan in the edition of 1597.
10 Huangchao liqi tushi was compiled during the Qianlong reign 13 DMHD, 1298.
(1736–96). The 18-juan text was completed in 1759 and revised and 14 DMHD, 1446 and 2773.
printed in 1766. It is divided into six parts, describing sacrificial 15 Hsieh Ming-liang 2006, 81–2.
objects (Jiqi 祭器, juan 1–2), ceremonial objects (Yiqi 儀器, juan 3), 16 Hsu Ya-huei 2003. There are two editions of Shaoxi zhouxian

120 | Ming China: Courts and Contacts 1400–1450