A RARE IMPERIAL WHITE JADE SCREEN IN A ZITAN FRAME

Details

A RARE IMPERIAL WHITE JADE SCREEN IN A ZITAN FRAME
GILT AND INCISED QIANLONG RENCHEN CYCLICAL DATE, CORRESPONDING TO 1772, AND OF THE PERIOD

The rectangular screen of semi-translucent white stone with areas of opacity, well carved in low relief with Bodhidharma standing barefeet on cresting waves in the midst of a turbulent sea, his voluminous robes billowing in the wind, one straw-shoe tied to a staff held over his right shoulder, with an incised and gilt Imperial text on the top left of the screen, the zitan frame elegantly carved with classic scroll beading, the dark wood with characteristic graining
8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm.) high

Lot Essay

The present scene depicts the legendary tale of Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze River on a reed.

The text by Emperor Qianlong elucidates the virtues of Bodhidharma: a historical 6th century Indian monk who introduced into China a form of Buddhism referred to as 'Chan', better known by its Japanese name 'Zen'. Bodhidharma is regarded as the sect's First Patriarch.

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