W420 X H550mm, China
Continuing from yesterday’s story about poor Wang who has been accused and sent to jail. On the upper print, Chun (second right) found out the news and rushed to the court, she made an appeal and Wang was released.
The lower print features the wedding night of Wang and Chun, the happy couple lived happily ever after.
Come to see the actual print and many others at the
New Year Print Exhibition
MOUNTAIN FOLKCRAFT
CHINESE WOOD BLOCK PRINT COLLECTION
W170xH280mm, China
This paper cutout is a pair of candles on the wedding candle stand. On the candle stand is the word double happiness “喜喜”, the two of them giving the joy of quadruple happiness! Candles are a symbol of marriage, the word 花燭 Hua Zhu (flower candle) is synonymous with marriage. These red wedding candles will be placed in the living room as well as the bedroom of the couple. It is however interesting to know that the use of flower candles were initially for the bride’s family, to console the departure of their beloved daughter.
Amongst the unique pottery, you will also find Mountain Folkcraft’s collection at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop X’mas Sale.
COBO CERAMIC WORKSHOP
1/F Fortune Court, 33 Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
5 – 9 Dec 2014 (Fri – Tue)
13:00-20:00
W250xH420mm, China
The two figures in this wood block print is the poet monks Han Shan and Shi Di. Han Shan and Shi Di are close friends, sharing ideas on poetry, zen teaching as well as literature. The 2 are known as the He He saints – for love, peace and harmony.
Shi Di (left) carried a stem of lotus “荷 – He” while Han Shan (right) has a rounded box “盒 – He”. The words 荷盒 “He He” has the same pronunciation as the words 和合 “He He” which has the meaning peaceful harmony.
At the wedding night, offering will be made by the bride and groom to the He He immortals for love, peace and harmony to be extended to the new family.
W300xH490mm, China
The worship of the heaven and earth is perhaps the most primitive of all faith. Heaven and earth included all the natural and fundamental elements such as the sun, moon and the galaxy, mountain, valley, river, lake and the sea, wind, rain, thunder and lighting are all part of the believes. The power of nature poses both blessing and treats to the human world. All, these elements are humanized into a saint known as the God of Heaven and Earth. Unlike the other saints, he is not housed in a temple as he symbolizes the universe as such; on Chinese New Year day, a wood block print of him will be posted up under the eaves for worship. Other time you will come across the God of Heaven and Earth are in traditional Chinese weddings, the bride and the groom will begin their wedding ritual by worshiping this god of the universe.
Below the Jade Emperor in the middle of this wood block print is an image of a tablet where it is written, “天地三界 十方萬靈”, there are 3 dimensions, the heaven, the earth and the dead, saints are every where.
L310xW70xH20mm, China
Cookie moulds for 3 different cookies.
Happiness (喜), blessings (福), the lotus fruit.
You might wonder with the style of the cookies are so different, maybe the 2 on the left with the words are for the parents and the more graphical one for the child. All the 3 cookies are a symbol of blessing, the lotus fruit (蓮子) “lian zi” is wish for having many children, the word 蓮 “lian” sounds like 連 “consecutive” and the word 子 means sons.
Blessing cookies for the wedding with happy future and many children.
W220xL300mm, China
A Taoist wood block print entitled “Heaven Earth Dragon Carriage”.
On the left of the print is Yuan Shi Tian Zun, the supreme Taoist deity, together with Tai Shang Lao Jun and Ling Boa Tian Zun formed the 3 Pure Ones. On the right of the print is the Jade Emperor, the God who creates the system of nature and the universe. Jade Emperor sits inside his dragon carriage and around them the 4 guards; Wang Ling Tian Jun, Pu Hua Tian Jun, General Li, Marshal Zhao. This new year print is used to bless of journey in vehicles, it is also used on the wedding day after the bride was picked up by the groom’s car, the couple would need to thank the gods for providing a safe journey.
DIA230xH230mm, China
This is one of the container for dowry for the Chinese in the old days, a container to be filled with melon seeds. Melon seeds is a popular snack for the Chinese especially for festive celebration like the Chinese New Year, apart from its nutrient and availability, more importantly its symbol for fertility.
Traditional melon seeds are kept in their shell and nibble open, unfortunately I cannot find a human demonstration, here is one by the squirrel.
See our other dowry containers; Wooden Pail, lacquer Box, Water Bucket, Double Happiness Jar, Embroidery Pouch.
DIA340xH100mm, China
This red lacquer box is part would have been part of the dowry item in a traditional Chinese wedding. In old China when the country is agricultural based, male is regarded as asset to the family with their labour and sadly , especially for the poor, female took on a minimal role in society. It is said that a wealthy family their daughter is married off, a commoner’s daughter would be given away at the marriage and a poor man would have his daughter sold. Wary of how the daughter’s life would be when she enters the groom’s family, the bride’s family would try their best to come up with an elaborate list of dowry so to ensure the status of their daughter in the new home and that she would not be seen as “sold”. It so extensive that the production of the dowry would be categorized into wood work, carving work, lacquer work, box and bucket work and costume making. In the morning of the wedding day, a team would set out from the groom to the brides house, after noon time, the team would return with the bride and the dowry procession. For the riches, the dowry would be a full procession which goes on for miles.
This lacquer box is for storing confectionery.
DIA350xH200mm, China
Before the invention of the disposable paper gift boxes and wraps, there were these lacquer boxes for transporting and presenting gifts. This particular one is for cakes and confectionery gift. After the gift is received, the boxes will be returned to the sender. A red packet will be placed inside the boxes as a thank you gesture to the giver, they should never be returned empty. For bigger celebrations like wedding, the bride’s family will send out boxes of the bridal cake for friends and family as an announcement of the wedding. The boxes will be rented out from the cake shop, though the wealthy family would have custom made the lacquer boxes for these occasion. Nowadays the custom is replaced by a cake gift voucher … I must say I would be much happier to receive the gift from a beautiful box like one then a paper voucher, I think it will make the cake taste better and share more of the joy of the happy couple.
W120xD100xH200mm, China
In the old days when free love was forbidden in China, all marriage proposals has to go through a matchmaker. Even when the couples are already in love with each other, one would still have to go through a matchmaker in order to make the marriage a proper one. The job of the matchmaker seems to be only opened to woman, apart from the proposing, they are also responsible for presenting the information of both families. In order to make the deal, the positive points are often emphasised and the weakness carefully put. Acting as the communicator for both families, she is also the co-ordinator, MC, organiser for the wedding.
The head of the figurine nods and the body wobbles resembling the matchmaker lady saying all the goodness about the marriage. The fan, of course, is the essential tool for the matchmaker, making sure everyone would stay cool during the big day.
Mountain Folkcraft 