Page 348 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 341

Looking at ‘spring pictures’

The great Ming painter Qiu Ying was celebrated for his ‘spring pictures’, which were
often imitated. Then there is a special form of mirror, known as ‘Spring Thoughts Mirror’
(chun yi jing), on which are painted southern scenes and scenes from erotic plays, such as
‘The West Chamber’ (Xi xiang Ji). ‘Spring medicine’ (chun-yao) is nowadays usually a
hormone preparation. Instead of pictures, small figures made from jade and ivory
were formerly given to princes of the royal family before their marriage. Often these
figures had moving parts and could be used to simulate a couple engaged in sexual
intercourse. ‘Spring Palace’ (chun-gong) is a metaphor for erotic films, but may also refer
to curiosa such as clocks which show a different picture every hour, or walnuts with
pictures painted inside the nut. ‘Just one spring breeze’ is a metaphor for a one-night
stand.

The titles of two famous books, ‘The Spring and Autumn Annals’ (Chun-qiu) and
‘Spring and Autumn of Lü Bu-wei’ (Lü-shi chun-qiu) refer to historical chronicles based
on the yearly cycles.
The ‘Spring Place’ (chun chang) in ancient China was situated outside the
east gate of the capital. Here, an ox (shun niu) was sacrificed to the
god of seed-time and sowing (Goumang). The eyes of the ox were stored
in the imperial medicine chest for use as an ophthalmic specific.
Spring (Fountain) Spring (Fountain)

quan