id:			136411
accession number:	1960.278
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/1960.278
updated:		2024-03-26 01:58:48.723000

Scepter (Gui) with Miscellaneous Poems by Tao Qian (AD 365-427), 1122 or later. China, Possibly Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong period (1736-1795). Translucent white jade; overall: 2.8 x 0.3 cm (1 1/8 x 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. John Lyon Collyer in memory of her mother, Mrs. G. M. G. Forman 1960.278

title:				Scepter (Gui) with Miscellaneous Poems by Tao Qian (AD 365-427)
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			1122 or later
creation date earliest:		1122
creation date latest:		1199
current location:		240B Chinese Decorative Arts
creditline:			Gift of Mrs. John Lyon Collyer in memory of her mother, Mrs. G. M. G. Forman
copyright:			

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culture:	China, Possibly Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong period (1736-1795)
technique:	translucent white jade
department:	Chinese Art
collection:	China - Song Dynasty
type:		Jade
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Overall: 2.8 x 0.3 cm (1 1/8 x 1/8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

	inscription:	"Respectfully made by the jade works of the palace work bureau, on an auspicious day in the twelfth month of the winter, in the third year of Hsuan-Ho of the Imperial Sung (Dynasty)" (1121 A.D.).  On the front and back of the knife are engraved, in minute characters with double contour lines, eight complete poems entitled "Miscellaneous Thoughts" by T'ao Yuan-Ming (365-427 A.D.), one of the greatest early poets of China.  Here are two examples:

The bright sun sinks beyond the western ridge,
The white moon rises behind the eastern range.
Afar, afar a myriad miles it flashes,
Immeasurably vast its light amidst the sky.
A wind comes and enters the bedroom door,
So in the night pillow-and mat are cold.
The air seems different- - I awake to the season's change.
I cannot go to sleep and know the night's eternity,
I wish to speak but there is no friend to talk to.
Raising my cup I challenge my lonely shadow.
The days and months fling us aside and pass;
We have high purposes but cannot realize them.
Thinking of this I have grief and pain at heart,
And all night long can find no quietness.

It is hard to dwell long in prosperity;
Rise and decline cannot be reckoned on.
What were formerly lotus buds in May,
Now in the autumn are but withered seed-pods.
A heavy frost stiffens the prairie grasses- - 
They wilt despondently and do not quickly die.-
The sun and moon come ever circling back.
Once we depart we do not shine again.
I ponder deeply on times long past and gone
Though to remember them tears my very entrails.

	translation:	
	remark:		

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* {'description': "Chinese Jades from Han to Ch'ing, Asia House Gallery 10/9/1980; The Detroit Institute of Arts 1/12-2/22/1981; Seattle Art Museum 3/26-5/10/1981; Honolulu Academy of Arts 5/17-9/13/1981.  Catalogue by James C. Y. Watt (Asia Society/John Weatherhill, Inc. 1980) cat. no. 121", 'opening_date': '1980-10-09T00:00:00'}

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PROVENANCE

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fun fact:


digital description:


wall description:

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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1960.278/1960.278_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1960.278/1960.278_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1960.278/1960.278_full.tif