Foliated tray with dragons and seven Chinese characters

Object Details

• Label

  Made for the imperial court, this tray is decorated with elements that underscore the legitimacy and righteous rule of the sovereign. A dragon, symbolizing the emperor, holds aloft the Chinese word sheng (imperial majesty). Smaller words on either side of this character mean "assist," referring to the ministers of state. Four other words appear at the cardinal points of the tray and proclaim "eternal good fortune and reward," blessings that emanate from the rule of a just emperor.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Object of the Bi-Month (April 25, 1991 to March 21, 2007)

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Jun Tsei Tai

• Type

  Vessel

• 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.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1520s, 1560s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Lacquer, Jiajing reign (1522 - 1566), Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Lettering, Dragon

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)