LATE MING-QING DYNASTY, 17TH-18TH CENTURY

Jade carvings of buffalo have traditionally been greatly prized in China, where the buffalo is a symbol of strength, prosperity and tranquility. The buffalo, or ox as it is sometimes referred to, is one of the twelve animals of the zodiac, and represents one of the twelve branches of the Chinese calendrical system. Buffalo are also associated with farming and the production of food, and therefore may also symbolize great bounty. The poetic view of the buffalo also had resonance for Buddhists and Daoists alike, suggesting retreat into a tranquil rural life away from the cities and the responsibilities of public office.