Cricket cage

Object Details

• Description

  This cricket-cage gourd has six vertical mould marks clearly visible on its exterior. A plain ivory rim supports an elaborately carved reticulated ivory lid. Carved as a moveable unit is a large tortoise, with its four feet locked into curving waves. Standing atop the tortoise (or the White Turtle) are characters from the famous Chinese novel Hsi-yu-chi (Chn), translated by Arthur Waley as Monkey. At the center is the Chinese Buddhist monk, Hsuan-tsang (Chn), with his horse at his right. Immediately behind the head of the tortoise is Monkey, while Pigsy (chu-pa-chieh, Chn) guards the rear. Another guardian figure, Sandy (sha-ho-shang, Chn) looks to the left. The scene depicts the episode from Chapter XXIX, "Hsi-yu-chi," which Waley translated as follows:

  The White Turtle was nearing the shore. "I've been waiting for you all this time," he said, craning his neck. "We are very glad to meet you," said Monkey, "come a little closer in." The turtle then sidled up to the bank and Monkey led the horse on to its broad back. Pigsy squatted behind its tail, Tripitaka [i.e. Hsuan-tsang] stood on one side of its head, Sandy on the other. Monkey stood with one foot on its neck and the other on its head. "Now then, old turtle," he said," go steadily," and the turtle set off smoothly and easily across the waters, carrying the whole company uneventfully till evening fell and they had almost reached the other side." (p. 292)

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Container

• 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

  1800s, 1930s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Cricket, Art, Animals, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection, Horses, Turtles, Monkeys, Tortoise

• Culture

  Buddhists, Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers