Page 105 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Fine Chinese Works of Art

fig. 1 Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei fig. 2 Illustrations of pomegranate, persimmon, and grapes included in
圖一 國立故宮博物院藏品 Chongxiu Zhenghe Jingshi Zhenglei Beiyong Bencao, juan 23, Huimingxuan
edition, published in 1249
圖二 《重修政和經史證類備用本草》 蒙古定宗四年（1249）
張存惠 晦明軒刻本 卷23

Like other bowls from this group, the interior of the current bowl from overseas with woodblock-printed illustrations. Although no
is undecorated, but the main decorative band around the exterior original copy of Bencao Tujing is thought to have survived, much of the
walls contains six fruiting sprays. These have been identified as information and illustrations contained therein was included in Jingshi
peach, pomegranate, loquat, grape, persimmon and crab apple. Zhenglei Beiji Bencao (Classified Materia Medica for Emergency Use,
Each is depicted with both fruit and flowers on a naturalistically Based on Classics and Historical Sources) by Tang Shenwei (1056-1093).
painted branch. The naturalism even extends to the way that the end In 1249, during the Yuan dynasty, Zhang Cunhui added the contents of
of each spray is shown as if torn from the branch, rather than cut. another publication - Bencao Yanyi (Elucidation of the Materia Medica),
It is probable that these features are due to the inspiration provided compiled by Kou Zongshi in 1116 - to that of Zhenglei Bencao and
by the woodblock-printed illustrations in materia medica – renamed the resulting volume Chongxiu Zhenghe Jingshi Zhenglei Beiyong
pharmacological literature dealing with plants in the context of their Bencao (The Revised Zhenghe Classified Materia Medica for Emergency
medicinal properties (fig. 2). The study of plants has a long history in Use, Based on Classics and Historical Sources). In the succeeding Ming
China, and there is literary evidence of specific interest in foreign plants and Qing dynasties there were further publications of various types
being brought to China in records from the Han dynasty of about which included detailed illustrations of plants, but the illustrations
st
nd
128 BC, while the 1 or 2 century AD saw the publication of Shen contained in Chongxiu Zhenghe Jingshi Zhenglei Beiyong Bencao
Nong Bencao Jing (Shen Nong’s Classic of the Materia Medica). Around and other early woodblock-illustrated treatises would have provided
AD 500 Bencao jizhu (An Annotated Collection of the Pharmaceutical inspiration for the distinctive format of the flowering and fruiting sprays
Canon) was edited by Tao Hongjing (AD 456–536), and it is this text which adorned fine imperial blue and white porcelains of the Yongle
which is often regarded as providing the foundation for widely distributed and Xuande reigns.
Chinese materia medica. This publication was superseded by Xinxiu
Bencao (Newly Revised Pharmacopoeia), a materia medica compiled, by The current large Xuande bowl is not only a particularly fine example
imperial command, by Su Jing (d. 674) in AD 659. In the Song dynasty of classic blue and white porcelain, but also has a prestigious provenance
interest in materia medica increased and in 1061 an official named Su having been owned by the famous Chinese collector Edward T. Chow
Song (1020-1101) compiled a compendium of herbal pharmacology on (1910-1980). The bowl was sold on 19 May 1981 by Sotheby’s in Hong
the instructions of the imperial court of Emperor Renzong (r. 1022-63). Kong in Part Three of The Edward T. Chow Collection sale, lot 406,
This compendium, entitled Bencao Tujing (Illustrated Classic of Materia at which time it was purchased by the father of the current owner.
Medica), included both Chinese medicinal material and that imported

99