Yuan (1271–1368) Blue-and-White Meiping (Prunus Vase) with the “Four Addictions” Motifs

Yuan (1271–1368) Blue-and-White Meiping(Prunus Vase) with the “Four Addictions”Motifs was excavated in 2006 from the Tomb of Prince Yingjing in Zhongxiang, Hubei Province. The vase measures 38.7 cm in total height, with a mouth diameter of 6.4 cm and a base diameter of 13 cm. It features a small flaring mouth, a short neck, broad and rounded shoulders, and a ring foot with a flat base. The shoulder of the vase is decorated with a phoenix flying through peonies. The central body is divided into four diamond-shaped panels, each illustrating a well-known anecdote of scholar-literati devotion: Wang Xizhi’s affinity for the goose, Tao Yuanming’s love of chrysanthemums, Lin Hejing’s companionship with the plum blossoms and cranes, and Zhou Dunyi’s admiration for the lotus. Encircling the foot is a band of upright and inverted lotus scrolls. Three decorative registers, separated by curving grass patterns and brocade band scrolls, are clearly articulated, creating a composition that is intricate yet well ordered. The entire vase is exquisitely crafted, elegant and refined, offering viewers a graceful aesthetic enjoyment.