heartprints

21 Maart 2018

The Tomb of the Nanyue King ~ Western Han Dynasty

Dit is die eerste keer in my lewe dat ek ‘n argeologiese opgrawing soos hierdie besoek. Ek is gefassineerd deur die rituele en die simboliek rondom hierdie graf. Hierdie discs is rondom die liggaam gevind en het ‘n spesifieke betekenis gehad. Dit word nie verduidelik in Engels nie, so ek oordryf nie as ek sê dis Chinees vir my nie!

Die juweliersware is van jade gemaak wat blykbaar kosbaar was. Die interessantste hiervan is die assimetriese patrone wat gemaak is. Selfs die hakies waaraan mens jou klere kon hang is klein kunswerkies op sigself.

The exhibition of porcelain pillows

Hierdie porselein kussings datteer uit die twaalfde tot dertiende eeu. Dit is beeldskoon maar ek is nie so seker van gerieflik nie!

Een kussing het ‘n gedig by…

Here is this pillow,
Made in the style of the Emperor of Shen Nong,
Incorporating elements of the ancient past
and produced in the region of Xiangzhou.
Meeting precisely the potter’s standards,
it shares the perfection of the universe,
and accords with the patterns of creation.
It has the luster of precious jade,
but avoids the ostentation of brocades.
Clay was thrown on the wheel to make the biscuit,
shaped in a rectangle and made hollow within,
coming from the kilns of
Emperors Yu and Shun on the riverbanks,
it is completely free from blemishes,
as the extinguishing of the vigorous and steady
flame of Boyi was timed precisely.
Having come into the hands of a poet,
it is proudly placed in the chamber of books.
It makes precious coral artifacts look vulgar,
and decorative amber items appear philistine.
At a distance it captures the attention,
and at close quarters it dazzles the eyes.
He would never exchange it even for a massive jade disc,
nor would he sell it for myriad taels of gold.

Placed in a pouch of finest brocades from Sichuan
within a box made of hardwood from Yuzhang.
It is stored like precious jade,
and handled with the utmost care.
In this, the hottest season of the year,
the heat rages to the Nine Heavens.
In the Northern Studio the guest bed had been prepared,
and as the southern wind blows against this bamboo bed.
the poet falls fast asleep,
his body and soul enjoying the blissful cool.
Deep in sleep his mind is at ease,
while in his dreams his desires are all fulfilled.
It is as if he is strolling in pavilions on the moon
or sauntering as an ice grotto.
He suddenly awakes to find his white hair dry again
and the burning heat dispersed.
This brings to mind the diligent scholars of old
who used a round tree trunk as their pillow,
and Confucius who slept on his folded elbow.
If we are to fully appreciate this ancient ware of Shen Nong,
how can we simply regard it as a means to avoid
the discomforts of the summer heat!

Made by the Idler on the Bank of the Zang River

Jizhou Kiln ~ an exhibition of porcelain from Jiangxi

Hierdie styl is elegant en uitsonderlik as gevolg van die glasuur wat gebruik is, maar ook die kunssinnige patrone.  Hierdie voorwerpe was funksioneel alhoewel ek dit sien as kunswerke!

Laat ek hierdie oomblik vir ewig deel maak van my onthou…

fitbit tel nog, hierdie dag is nog nie verby nie.