Chinese tea

The image below is of a ritual wine cup. It’s not very big so you wouldn’t be getting drunk from any imbibing.

It’s Chinese and was made somewhere between 1750 and 1800 during the Qing Dynasty. It is carved lacquer on wood and lives in the V&A.

As I wandered around at lunchtime today, wondering what to photograph for the blog, it suddenly occurred to me that, of course, I should make an effort to write about some Chinese stuff.

This is not for any cultural diversification, you understand, but because we’re off to Beijing at the end of the month and I figured I’d do a bit of shallow research.

I booked the flights and the hotel this week and, next week, I’m going to get the visas, so (hopefully) it’s all go. I’m not getting too excited though, because the Chinese government still has to let us in…that’s what the visas are for.

So, I wandered around the Chinese gallery, snapping inadequately away through the glass cases, looking at all the beautiful and sometimes frightening, items on display.

I rather liked the wine cup above but, I think this very colourful teapot is my favourite item.

There’s something very joyful about it. It also helps having a pink background.

It was made, again, in the Qing dynasty but a bit earlier than the wine cup; between 1680 and 1720. It’s coloured enamel on porcelain. It would also only hold one small cup of tea.

I reckon it would look very nice on our mantelpiece…though I don’t think we could afford the insurance.

And finally, for this extremely short taste of Chinese culture, here’s a magnificently regal statue of bodhisattva Guanyin.

(On close examination, I reckon he looks a bit like Aunty Mollie.)

Guanyin was/is/will be (you know what these mad Bhuddists are like) a god or goddess associated with compassion. This one is sitting in ‘regal ease’ and was carved in around 1200. It’s been painted a number of times, the present coat applied during the Ming dynasty.

Some Chinese Bhuddists believe that when you die, Guanyin places you in the heart of a lotus. Well, if you believe in Guanyin, at least. Must be a bloody big lotus.

So, that’s your Chinese lesson for this week. Oh, and in case no-one believes me…