Myth, Legend, and Fact

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It's Chinese mythology and legend that reveal the origin of this dish. Even the seasoned collector might overlook some of the important details.

Unlike many porcelains bearing a mark, often apocryphal, often fake, the mark on this dish is extremely important. Not just the identifying characters of Da Ming Nian Zao, but being enclosed within the double circle. This clearly identifies it as being made for the Imperial court. But it's the scene that connects this piece to the court of Hongwu.

It tells a very interesting story. No, it's not just a tall bird, though it does look much like the stylized peacock, possibly even a stork. If you look closely, it's the legendary Phoenix bird (Feng huang), second on the list of the four Chinese Supernatural Creatures. By succession, the Dragon, Phoenix, Unicorn, and the Tortoise. The Phoenix, according to Chinese legend, appears at a time of peace and prosperity. Appearances are very rare and usually indicate a great event or, as in this case, honor to a great ruler.

According to legend, it alights only on the Wu Tong tree, and usually stands on one leg. It is often tended to by one or more smaller birds. Usually it is shown gazing at a ball of fire in the sky, or the sun. The Phoenix bird was last seen in the year 1368 at the grave of Hongwu's father. This sighting was said to pass the power of the Empire to Hongwu as he began (founded) the great Ming Dynasty.

So the scene on this dish has much meaning.  Just as described above, it is the Phoenix bird alighting on a Wu Tong tree, standing on one leg, gazing at a ball of fire in the sky. A small bird tending. It's here where the legend merges with fact.

Within Anhui Province, Fengyang County, there is a tourist attraction known as The Fengyang Royal Mausoleum. It was begun in 1369, the second year of Hongwu's reign and completed 14 years later. Aside from his parents and brothers, it also includes close members of family. 

The image below however, is believed to be the original tomb (burial mound) called out in the legend. This was located on the land of neighbor Liu Jizu. He granted Hongwu and his brother permission to bury their parents who had both died from the famine just two weeks apart in 1344. Also visible is an obvious man-made border at the base. If you use your imagination, the small tree standing alone near the top looks much like that of the Feng huang fu (Phoenix bird). It's possibly a Wu Tong tree.

Original Burial Mound Anhui Province __________ Though the empty mound itself remains basically unchanged, the stone border (also in the scene) has been restored many times during the past 6 centuries. Emperor Hongwu lies buried further away in Xiaoling, which is nearer Nanjing, but closer to his father than if he were in the 13 Ming tombs.

The Annam Vase in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul Turkey is considered the most important porcelain of the 15th century, mainly from the inscription which dates the piece to the actual year of 1450.

The Anhui Dish, named such for the province in which the scene that it portrays originated, bares a similar importance to the 14th century. This is clearly an early example of Hongwu porcelain made for the Imperial court. The marking within the double ring may have set a precedent to serve as a template for marking all Imperial porcelain throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. I believe the Anhui Dish to be one of the earliest known examples of Ming Dynasty Imperial porcelain, making it a very important porcelain of the 14th century.

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