Lot Essay
Jiao Sui is shown seated at a table with four other scholars. It was thought that Jiao Sui could only express his brilliance when drunk, and it would seem that, as depicted here, Jiao Sui had already partaken of enough wine to render him eloquent, since he is shown seated with his arms folded, while the others at the table express their astonishment at, and respect for, his erudition by their various gestures.
On the back of the cup is inscribed the verse from Du Fu's poem relating to Jiao Sui:
Jiao Sui needs five gallons [of wine] before he can become erudite,
Then the loftiness of his rhetoric amazes those vigorously debating in the four halls.
On the back of the cup is inscribed the verse from Du Fu's poem relating to Jiao Sui:
Jiao Sui needs five gallons [of wine] before he can become erudite,
Then the loftiness of his rhetoric amazes those vigorously debating in the four halls.