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was excavated from the Xuande stratum at Jingdezhen It is signifcant that in the early Ming dynasty, it appears
(illustrated Chang Foundation, Xuande Imperial Porcelain that only the winged dragon – seen on vessels such as the
excavated at Jingdezhen, op. cit., p. 99, no. 101-3). large blue and white fsh bowl or gang excavated from the
Xuande stratum at the imperial kilns in 1982 (illustrated
In 1993 an imperial cricket jar decorated in underglaze Chang Foundation, Xuande Imperial Porcelain excavated at
blue with a design of sea creatures was excavated from Jingdezhen, op. cit., p. 14, no. 4), who was associated with
the Xuande stratum at Jingdezhen (illustrated Chang rainfall, and the winged elephant, who may also have been
Foundation, Xuande Imperial Porcelain excavated at associated with rain, amongst the winged sea creatures,
Jingdezhen, op. cit., p. 68, no. 58-1). It is notable that, seem to be depicted alone on imperial porcelain vessels.
amongst the sea creatures on this jar, it is the fying Winged horses do not appear alone on porcelains until
elephants which dominate, and it is a fying elephant later in the dynasty. The dragon and the elephant – both
which appears on the lid surrounded by eight precious associated with the bringing of rain – would have had
emblems. The dominance of the winged elephant can particular resonance for the emperor, who, was always
also be seen on a large dish decorated in underglaze blue concerned that there should be rain to water the crops in
with a design of sea creatures which was excavated in order to ensure a good harvest and prevent famine.
1982 from the Xuande stratum at Jingdezhen (illustrated
Chang Foundation, Xuande Imperial Porcelain excavated A pair of blue and white Xuande stem cups of identical size
at Jingdezhen, op. cit., p. 80, no. 76). In all sixteen diferent and shape to the current cup, and decorated with the same
sea creatures are depicted on this plate, but while the design of fying elephants amongst clouds and above the
other creatures appear on the interior and exterior sides waves is in the collection of the National Palace Museum,
of the dish, it is a winged elephant which appears on a Taipei (illustrated in Catalogue of the Special Exhibition of
larger scale in the extended interior roundel. A Chenghua Selected Hsüan-te Imperial Porcelains of the Ming Dynasty,
blue and white dish from the Qing Court collection, which Taipei, 1998, pp. 210-211, no. 78). The National Palace
bears the sea creature design, and also has a winged Museum also has in its collection two stem cups decorated
elephant in the internal roundel with undecorated interior with the nine sea creatures, including the winged elephant
walls, is in the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing – one with the creatures in underglaze cobalt blue against a
(illustrated in Blue and White Porcelain with Underglaze background of overglaze iron red waves and the other with
Red (II), The Complete Collection of Treasures of the the sea creatures reserved in white against a background
Palace Museum, Commercial Press, Hong Kong, 2000, of underglaze blue waves (illustrated Catalogue of the
p. 11, no. 9). The positioning of elephants on these vessels Special Exhibition of Selected Hsüan-te Imperial Porcelains
emphasises the important place held by the elephant of the Ming Dynasty, op. cit., pp. 222-223, no. 84, and pp.
amongst the sea creatures. In the context of Buddhism, 234-235, no. 90, respectively). A further Xuande blue and
elephants are symbols of strength and steadfastness, and white stem cup of the same size, shape and decoration as
it seems possible that these elephants gain additional the current cup, from the collection of Sir Percival David
importance through their association with the Bodhisattva (PDF B638) is illustrated in The World’s Great Collections
Samantabhadra, Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence. - Oriental Ceramics, vol. 6 Percival David Foundation of
In Hinduism Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu and goddess of Chinese Art, London, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, 1982,
wealth and prosperity, is associated with an elephant, which monochrome plate 96.
is sometimes said to be able to invoke from the clouds
winged elephants, who could fy to earth and bring rainfall. The current rare stem cup is decorated with the brilliant
Lakshmi is also a goddess in Buddhism who can confer cobalt blue and powerful painting style characteristic of the
abundance and good fortune. fnest imperial porcelains of the Xuande reign.
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