Page 141 - Bonhams, Fine Chinese Art, London November 3, 2022
P. 141
165 (two views)
The poem inscribed on the present vessel Which may be translated as: Chrysanthemums are one of the ‘Four
is entitled ‘Chrysanthemums, Imperially Gentlemen’ flowers along with bamboo,
Inscribed’. It reads: ‘The book of Zhou only records the yellow orchid and prunus. They are also associated
flower, with a joyful retirement. They were the
周書惟載有黃華， Later generations searched and boasted of favourite flowers of Tao Qian, or Tao Yuanming
後世侵尋五色誇。 the five colours. (365-427), a poet living during a turbulent
自是椎輪生大輅， Naturally, the petals verticillate like a large period in China who retired in midlife to a
濫觴寧獨傲霜花。 carriage wheel, small estate to live out his days in rustic
御製題菊 Originally it prefers tranquil solitude and scorns obscurity, drinking wine and writing poetry;
frost’. see S.Nelson, ‘Revisiting the Eastern Fence:
Tao Qian’s Chrysanthemums’, The Art
The poem is included in Qing Gaozong Yuzhi Bulletin, 2001, vol.83, no.3, pp.437-460. It is
Shiwen Quanji (‘Anthology of Imperial Qianlong probable therefore, that the Qianlong emperor
poems and text’, Yuzhi Shi San Ji (‘Imperial wrote this poem on chrysanthemums in his
poetry’), vol.3, vol.39, p.6. later years as his thoughts also turned to
retirement.
FINE CHINESE ART | 139
