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Lot Essay
The flower depicted on this particular cup is apricot blossom (xinghua), the flower of the second lunar month. Since this was the month in which the imperial examinations were held, apricot blossom has also become the 'successful candidate's flower', as well as being a symbol of a beautiful woman. The poetic inscription written on the other side of the cup in underglaze blue reads:
'Qingxiang he suyu, jiase chu qingyan'
This may be translated as:
'Its clear fragrance harmonizes with the scent of over-night rain,
Its beautiful color surpasses the brilliance of sunshine reflected off the haze.'
The couplet is taken from the poem, In Reply to Zhangsun Yi for Sending me Apricot from Lanxi, by the Tang dynasty poet Qian Qi (AD 710-780).
'Qingxiang he suyu, jiase chu qingyan'
This may be translated as:
'Its clear fragrance harmonizes with the scent of over-night rain,
Its beautiful color surpasses the brilliance of sunshine reflected off the haze.'
The couplet is taken from the poem, In Reply to Zhangsun Yi for Sending me Apricot from Lanxi, by the Tang dynasty poet Qian Qi (AD 710-780).