Inscribed mirror with animals and figures

Object Details

• Label

  Illustrations of a famous story about the qin and its ability to convey emotions adorn these mirrors decorated with supernatural animals and important figures. When Boya, a legendary master of the zither, performed on his qin, his companion Zhong Ziqi was able to interpret his thoughts as he played. If Boya contemplated surging waters, Zhong uncannily responded, "How skillful and sublime, just like surging waters." When Zhong died, Boya broke his qin, believing no one else would understand his music. Through this story, the qin came to symbolize sublime communication between like-minded friends.

  Boya's teacher, Cheng Lian, appears on the Eastern Han mirror. Cheng was said to transport Boya to the Isles of the Immortals to perfect his student's technique. This highlights another aspect of lore about the qin, namely, its connection with magic and celestial harmony.

• Provenance

  From at least 1937

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from at least February 12, 1937 [1]

  From 1937

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo &

  Company on May 3, 1937 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See C. T. Loo's letter to John E. Lodge, dated February 12, 1937, where the bronze is mentioned as being sent to the Freer Gallery, copy in object file.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated May 3, 1937, copy in object file.

  See also C. T. Loo's stockcard no. 36/283 where the object is listed as "Black bronze mirror with raised decoration of animals and seal like inscriptions. Han," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Virtue and Entertainment: Chinese Music in the Visual Arts (October 1, 2005 to May 29, 2006)

  The Dragon's Moan (February 6 to October 1, 2000)

  Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Bronze, Jade, Metalwork (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork and Painting, East Corridor (February 15, 1955 to August 26, 1955)

  Special Mirror Exhibition (November 16, 1954 to February 25, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1946 (May 7, 1946 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1944 (November 15, 1944 to May 6, 1946)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to November 17, 1944)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork (March 14, 1931 to March 22, 1943)

  Stone Sculpture, Buddhist Bronze, and Chinese Painting (May 2, 1923 to February 25, 1956)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Mirror

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  100s, 300s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Qin, Metal-work, Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Mirrors