This is an offering plate for the gods at the temple or even at the shrine at home.
The offerings are broadly divided into 5 groups; tea and wine, incense, fruits and cakes, the 5 grains, animals. These offering has to be aesthetically beautiful, making a melodic sound and of course tasty.
However, it seems Master Chin Kung’s teaching makes more sense.
Instead of tea and wine, water should be offered, our mind should be as pure and peaceful as water.
We should understand the meaning of what it is we are offering.
The name “Thousand Layer Sole” came from the fact that the sole is made with numerous layer of cloth held together with rice glue and hand stitching. It is a common way of making traditional shoes in China, according to the archaeologists the technique has been around since the Zhou dynasty (700 BC).
Click to see how it is made, maybe you can try making it at home!
There is a long history for domesticated elephant in Thailand; with the strength the elephants can offer, they are captured from the wild and trained (a bit like the domestication of horses and dogs). The white elephants were offered to the King and worshiped, some were trained to be fighting elephants, as the one used by Queen Suriyothai’s carrier in the war with the Burmese in 1548AD. Others were trained to be laborers for the forestry, pulling logs from the mountain down to the river. To track the elephants, bells were put around their neck so they can be heard in the forest.
Here is a Thai folk tale about a boy and an elephant bell.
Once upon at time, there is a poor boy despite of his lack of education he was taught the virtue of respect. One day the boy was lost in the forest, he wandered fearfully and came face to came with a full grown elephant. The huge elephant was strolling peacefully munching banana and other fruits. Judging by the size of the elephant, the boy thought the elephant must be thousands of years old and must be respected, he kneeled and bowed giving his respect to the animal. Touched by the act the elephant helped him to find his way home, then the elephant said to the little boy, “Here is a bell given to me by the King of the Elephants, ring it if you are in trouble and the other elephants will come to help you.” Then one day, the boy and his father were in the forests collecting wood for the fire. Lighting strike and they became stuck by a fallen tree. The boy remembered the elephant’s word and rang the bell, soon a herd of elephants came and lift the fallen tree and relieved them. At the same time, the wild elephant who gave him the bell was captured and being trained as a fighting elephant. Unsuited to his general temperment, the elephant snapped, killed his mahout trainer and destroyed the village. The news reached the King and the troops were sent to kill the elephant, when the boy heard the news he volunteer to go to tamed the elephant in exchange for him to be free. As he entered the village, the elephant charged for an attack. The boy generally kneel and bowed as he did before, as he rang the bell, the elephant remembered him and came close to him. The elephant calmed down and followed him to meet with the King who kept his word and the elephant was free.
This curious circular lacquer tray has been a puzzle for me, I cannot figure out what was the original usage for such item. The material of the tray is very delicate, made with paper and a semi transparent lacquer.
If anyone know of the origin and usage of this tray, please let me know! Other unsolved mystery.
This figurine is by the famous pottery area Shi Wan; their figurines are typical to have a glazeless delicate facial and hand depiction while contrasting with an expressive and bold glazing on the clothing.
The drunken poet, Li Bai, is a popular subject for figurine, paintings, etc., apart from his literary stature, his love for drinking also give a character for the artisan to express.
The poem “Drinking Alone under the Moon” by Li Bai, translation by W. Bynner
From a pot of wine among the flowers
I drank alone. There was no one with me—
Till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon
To bring me my shadow and make us three.
Alas, the moon was unable to drink
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;
But still for a while I had these friends.
To cheer me through the end of spring . . .
I sang. The moon encouraged me.
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.
As long as I knew, we were boon companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.
. . . Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.
A pair of suan ni, with smoke coming out of their mouths!
Like the Tao Tie, Suan Ni is one of the sons of the dragon (the 8th son). Unlike the Tao Tie who adores food, the Suan Ni is a patient creature that loves the smoke from the incense. He can be found on the large incense burners and also as a carrier for the Bodhisattva Manjusri.
These Suan Ni are a pair of incense burners, flip open the head, place the incense, light it, flip the head back and enjoy their smokey conversations.
A small paper drawer for storing accessories, the outside of the box is decorated with Japanese paper. I like the details that is put into the box, the edges of the drawers are covered with a tougher brown paper and metal draw pull just complete the miniature version.
Birdcages from China can be classified broadly into the northern and the southern type. This distinction by region can also be seen in the shape of the cages as well; northern birdcages are typically circular with a flat top, known as the Tianjin style, the southern types are cubic in shape with the bottom slightly larger than the top, known as the Suzhou style. Suzhou is a province with Gangnam, so I guess we can say this is Gangnam Style.
In the old days birds are probably a more common pet for the Chinese than dogs and cats (who has a duty to guard or to catch mice), birds are there just for appreciation. The birdcages are the habitat, carrier as well as the stage for the birds. Their light mobility provide the bird with different settings; on the table, hang on the beam, on tree, transported to the teahouse of the park to meet other birds, etc, etc.
A very sweet film about a bird, though it is cage it is not held captive. The fledgling was found fallen off its nest and its feather was damaged, unable to fly. For a few days it was kept in a birdcage for the feather to recover, as if the intention has been understood, the mother came constantly to feed her young in the cage. Then second video is when the bird was released and successfully flew.
It is believed that Tai Shang Lao Jun is the spiritualization of Lao Zi, the founder of Taoism. He is one of the Three Pure Ones, together with Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Ling Boa Tian Zun, they formed the Taoist trinity forms the fundamental of Taoism. Tai Shang Lao Jun is the body of Taoism, the origin of Chi (the heaven and the earth), the nature system and order.
DIA100xH140mm, China
Mountain Folkcraft 