Page 190 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

open atmosphere created within previous courts that led to the incorporation of Western

ideas into the porcelain commissioned by the imperial court.

Carefully observation of the painting on the porcelain vases, reveals that the

landscape depicted is a clear representation of the Daoist paradise. This is identifiable

due to the inclusion of the Eight Immortals within the landscape. On the vases the

Immortals are crossing the water and progressing toward several other figures, including

a depiction of the Queen Mother of the West in a boat. 239 The Queen Mother of the West

is the goddess of both life and immortality. She was thought to reside in a Western

paradise, where she grew the peaches of immortality. According to traditional beliefs,

the Queen Mother of the West serves as the ruler of all female Immortals. In this context

the Queen Mother of the West may be yet another symbolic reference to the empress

dowager. 240 The selection of a pair of porcelain vases that embody the successes of the

previous Qing reigns along with imagery that conveys feminine power indicate that Cixi

meant this diplomatic gift to hold extensive meaning, emphasizing her power and

authority.

Another gift presented to Queen Victoria in 1897 was a set of Qianlong vases. As

previously established, Cixi’s connection to the reigns of previous emperors allowed her

to identify with the successes of the past, thus establishing herself within the context of

accomplishment during her own reign. These vases are made of porcelain that was also

painted in the famille rose color palette and accented with gold (Figure 73). The vases

239 The identifiable figures within the scene include Shoulao near the pavilion along with Liu Hai
and his three-legged toad. These figures are all indicative of the Daoist paradise.
240 Paintings of Cixi often directly portray her as Guanyin. For further information, see Yuhang
Li, “Painting Empress Dowager Cixi as Guanyin for Missionaries’ Eyes,” Orientations 49, no. 6
(December 2018), 50-61.
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