Stories of Images

Jade rabbit: Shang Dynasty, AnYang, HeNan(1300 BC-1046BC), National Museum
Handwriting: Ming Dynasty, ShenDu(1357-1434)
Wicker and the swallow: Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368), ShengChangNian, "Picture of wicker and the swallow", Beijing Palace Museum

In chinese culture, a day is divided in twelve pieces and represented by twelve animals. The duration between 5:00am and 7:00am is named "Mao". At this time, the sun hasn't shown its face yet while the moon's brilliance hasn't receded yet. Jade rabbit is another name of the moon, so it is also called as "Mao Rabbit".

The twelve animals also name years circularly. This year is turned to be "Rabbit Year".

WuHan Mesuem collects a set of terracotta animals in Sui Dynasty(581-618)

National Museum collects a bronze mirror of Sui Dynasty(581-618) and a set of terracotta animals in Tang Dynasty(618-907)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Sui Dynasty(581-618)

Jade rabbit: Qing Dynasty(1636-1912), set of jade animals, Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: Han Dynasty, XuShen(58-147)
Bamboo: Qing Dynasty, ShiTao(1642-1708), "Picture of bamboo, stone, and plum-blossom", Shanghai Museum

This rabbit holds a fan in right hand and some leaves in right hand, like an ancient scholar.
"WuGang cuts laurel" is chinese myth. WuGang is a celestial who did wrong thing and is punished to go to palace on the moon to cut a laurel which is always healed. The laurel is never hurted and only drops one leaf from the moon to the earth in every Aug 16. This leaf can bring infinite treasures to the finder. This Jade rabbit holds such leaves which means wish of endless wealth.

The jade animals are soooo slippery and cute!

Jade rabbit: Song Dynasty, paperweight(1274), QuZhou, ZheJiang, QuZhou Museum
Handwriting: Tang Dynasty, WuZeTian(699)
Peach blossom: Qing Dynasty, YunShouPing, "Gallery of flowers and scenery"(1675), Beijing Palace Museum

“Flower and bird painting" is one important type of chinese traditional painting art. It may represent all of plants and animals.

Jade rabbit: Shang Dynasty(1600 BC—1046 BC), black jade, TianJing Museum
Handwriting: the Warring States, bamboo slip of Qin(476 BC-210 BC)
Plum blossom: Qing Dynasty, ZhuDa, "Picture of ancient plum blossom"(1682), Beijing Palace Museum

Chinese literati express their perceptions and emotions by "Meaningful Painting". Only with water and ink, the lines, concentration, and blank generate the topic of painting.

Colors are filled in this ink painting, because I believe ancient would hope descendants living colorful lives.

“淋婴之子” provides the standard picture of this black jade rabbit. Thanks!

Jade rabbit: Ming Dynasty, earring, Dingling(1620), Beijing Dingling Museum
Handwriting: Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
Laurel and chrysanthemum: Ming Dynasty, LvJi(1439—1505), "Picture of laurel, chrysanthemum and birds", Beijing Palace Museum
Butterflies: Song Dynasty(1127-1279), LiAnZhong, "Picture of butterflies in sunshine of spring", Beijing Palace Museum

In chinese myth, the rabbit is generally with rabbit head and person body and holding a jade pestle to make elixir for Western Mother Queen in the palace on the moon. This means the wish of long life.

From gate of 2000+ years ago to earring of 400+ years ago, this little rabbit is always working hardly.

Beijing Palace Museum collects a portrait brick in Han Dynasty(25-220)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Han Dynasty(25-220)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Tang Dynasty(618-907)

Beijing Palace Museum collects a bronze mirror of Tang Dynasty(618-907)

Jade rabbit: Zhou Dynasty, Guo Kingdom(1046 BC-655 BC), HeNan Guo Kingdom Museum
Handwriting: Shang Dynasty, FuHao Tomb(1250 BC-1192 BC)
Orchid: Yuan Dynasty, ZhaoMengFu(1254-1322) "Picture of orchid, bamboo, and stone", Shanghai Museum

In chinese culture, "Four Nobles" are plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum. They mean exalted and respectable characters which traditional scholars aspire.

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of plum blossom(1097-1171) in Song Dynasty

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of butterflies and chrysanthemum in Song Dynasty(1127-1279)

Jade rabbit: Shang Dynasty(1600 BC—1046 BC), JingJie Tomb, Shanxi, Shanxi Institute of Archaeology
Handwriting: Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
Begonia: Song Dynasty, LinChun, "Picture of begonia"(1174-1189), Taipei Palace Museum
Rhododendron and morning glory: Qing Dynasty, QianWeiChen(1720-1772) "Picture of flowers", Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA

"Academy Painting" is one type of chinese traditional painting art. It came from requirements of official painting academies or royal courts. This genre focuses realism and the paintings express delicate details.

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of Song Dynasty(1082-1135)

Beijing Palace Museum collects picture of Qing Dynasty(1766)

Jade rabbit: Yuan Dynasty(1271—1368), belt, National Museum
Handwriting: Yuan Dynasty, DengWenYuan(1258—1328)
Lotus: Qing Dynasty, YuZhi, "Gallery of flowers and birds"(1736-1799), Beijing Palace Museum

The rabbit holds LingZhi in mouth and looks back to gaze the moon. This means the wish of lucky and long life.

Jade rabbit: the Warring States(476 BC-221 BC), WuXi, Jiangsu, HongShan Site Museum
Handwriting: Yuan Dynasty, ZhaoMengFu(1254-1322)
Peony: Qing Dynasty, YuXing(1736-1767), "Picture of peony and birds", Beijing Palace Museum

Not only scholars like plants, all chinese enjoy beautiful flowers from ancient times to the present. Peony means the wish of riches and honours for both the family and the country.

Handwriting: Yuan Dynasty XianYuShu(1246-1302)
Golden army credential: Warring States Qin Kingdom(475 BC-221 BC) XiAn Museum
Handwriting: Western Han Dynasty(202 BC-8)
Brick portrait: Southern Dynasties(420-589) ChangZhou Museum
Handwriting: Eastern Jin Dynasty WangXiZhi(303-361)
Jade: Shang Dynasty FuHao Tomb(1250 BC-1192 BC) Anyang Yinxu Site Museum
Handwriting: Tang Dynasty LiuGongQuan(778-865)
Bronze army credential: Warring States King of Qin(356 BC-311 BC) Shaanxi History Museum
Embroidery: Warring States Chu Tomb(1042 BC-223 BC) Jingzhou Museum
Pottery tile: Han Dynasty(202 BC-220) Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: Spring and Autumn Annals(1046 BC-221 BC)
Bronze army credential: Qin Dynasty YingZhen(259 BC-210 BC) National Museum of China
Handwriting: Yuan Dynasty ZhaoMengFu(1254-1322)
Bronze: Shang Dynasty(1600 BC-1046 BC) Jiangxi Museum
Handwriting: Northern Song Dynasty HuangTingJian(1045-1105)
Stone: Southern Dynasties(420-589) ChangZhou Museum
Seal: Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
Bronze transportation credential: Western Han Dynasty ZhaoMo Tomb(137 BC-122 BC) Nanyue King Museum
Handwriting: Southern Song Dynasty(1236-1283) Wen Tian Xiang
Fresco: Tang Dynasty(710) Shaanxi(109.175098,34.752134)
Handwriting: Ming Dynasty(1521-1593) Xu Wei
Fresco: Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) Shanxi(111.11494,35.50649)
Handwriting: Northern Song Dynasty(1037-1101) Su Shi
Fresco: Liao Dynasty(907-1125) Inner Mongolia(120.059204,43.870084)
Handwriting: Western Han Dynasty(168 BC) Ma Wang Dui tomb
Fresco: Five Dynasties Period(924) Hebei(114.596854,38.807284)
Handwriting: Tang Dynasty(709-784) Yan Zhen Qing
Painting: Tang Dynasty(723-787) Han Huang, Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: Tang Dynasty(646-691) Sun Guo Ting
Painting: Southern Tang Dynasty(910-980) Gu Hong Zhong, Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: Modern(1893-1976) Mao Ze Dong
Painting: Southern Song Dynasty(1131-1218) Liu Song Nian, Taipei Palace Museum
Handwriting: Spring and Autumn Period(550 BC) Hou Ma Treaty
Lacquer painting: Northern Wei Dynasty(484) Shanxi(113.359314,40.063904) Datong Municipal Museum
Handwriting: Zhou Dynasty(1046 BC-256 BC) Oracle
Silk painting and patten: Warring States Period(403 BC-221 BC) Hunan(112.933419,28.23129) Hunan Provincial Museum
Handwriting: Tang Dynasty(618-907) LiuGongQuan
Porcelain: Ming Dynasty(1368―1644) Nanjing Museum
Handwriting: Eastern Jin Dynasty(317-420) WangXiZhi
Porcelain: Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279) Taipei Palace Museum
Handwriting: Qing Dynasty(1636-1912) ZhengBanQiao
Porcelain: Qing Dynasty(1636-1912)
Handwriting: Northern Song Dynasty(960-1127) MiFu
Porcelain: Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279) Sichuan Porcelain Museum
Handwriting: Qin Dynasty(221 BC-207 BC)
Porcelain: Qing Dynasty(1636-1912) Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220) XuShen
Porcelain: Tang Dynasty(618-907) Nanjing Museum
Handwriting: Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) ZhaoMengFu
Porcelain: Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) Taipei Palace Museum
Handwriting: Ming Dynasty(1368―1644) DongQiChang
Porcelain: Song Dynasty(960-1279) Beijing Palace Museum
Handwriting: The Three Kingdoms(220-280) CaoZhi
Porcelain: Song Dynasty(960-1279) Beijing Palace Museum
Song Dynasty(1112) KaiFeng(114,34) Painting/Handwriting
Outline: Western Han Dynasty(122 BC) GuangZhou(113, 23) Carved Jade
Texture: Western Han Dynasty(168 BC) ChangSha(113, 28) Silk/Embroidery
Tang Dynasty(618-907) XiAn(109,34) Iron/Copper/Golden
Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220) SiChuan(104,30) Brick Portrait
Warring States Period(300 BC) JingMen(112,31) Bamboo Strips
Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220) SiChuan(104,30) Brick
Shang Dynasty(1200 BC) AnYang(114,36) Bronze
Western Han Dynasty(168 BC) ChangSha(113, 28) Lacquer
Shang Dynasty(1200 BC) AnYang(114,36) Carved Jade/Oracle
Western Han Dynasty(122 BC) GuangZhou(113, 23) Carved Jade
Shang Dynasty(1200 BC) AnYang(114,36) Carved Jade
Fresco: Jin Dynasty(1115-1234) Shanxi(113.613416,37.807018)
porcelain of Ming Dynasty(1368-1644)
palace model of Song Dynasty(960-1279)
lacquer(92 BC-59 BC) of Han Dynasty
lines
lacquer(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
the cat
turquoise and bronze of Xia Dynasty(1735 BC-1530 BC)
porcelain of Sui Dynasty(581-618)
casse of Tang Dynasty(618-907)
textile(1127-1279) of Song Dynasty
embroidery(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
icons from Zhou Dynasty(1046 BC-256 BC)
pattern(1046 BC-771 BC) of Zhou Dynasty
tiles of Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
tiles of Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
porcelain of Sui Dynasty(581-618)
cloud on porcelain of Tang Dynasty(618-907)
patten(1600 BC-771 BC) of Shang Dynasty or Zhou Dynasty
textile(1636-1912) of Qing Dynasty
silk painting(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
the Sun Bird
lacquer of the Warring States(476 BC-221 BC)
cloud in fresco of Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368)
pottery of Miaodigou culture(5000 BC-3000 BC)
lacquer(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
lines
lacquer of the Warring States(476 BC-221 BC)
brick portrait of Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
pottery of Banpo Culture(6800 BC-6300 BC)
lacquer of Qin Dynasty(221 BC-207 BC)
pottery of Dahecun culture(6800 BC-3500 BC)
silvering and gold plating of Spring and Autumn period(770 BC-476 BC)
“Yi Jin” by JiChang(1152 BC-1056 BC) in Zhou Dynasty
silk books(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
“Tai Ji” by ChenTuan(872-989) in Song Dynasty
Majiayao Culture(3300 BC-2050 BC)
jade long of Hongshan Culture(4000 BC-3000 BC)
store of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)
tiles of Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
"Dare you response when I call your name?"
bronze of Spring and Autumn period(770 BC-476 BC)
textile(1620) of Ming Dynasty
bronze of Shang Dynasty or Zhou Dynasty(1600 BC-771 BC)
embroidery(186 BC-128 BC) of Han Dynasty
bronze(1046 BC-771 BC) of Zhou Dynasty
Majiayao Culture(3300 BC-2050 BC)
brick portrait of Han Dynasty(202 BC-220)
Windows of Chinese gardens
gold claws of Zhou Dynasty(1046 BC-256 BC)