Taoism and Oxblood Red Porcelain

Taoism is as much a lens for looking at the world, as it is a philosophy. Taoist reasoning works its way into so many aspects of Chinese culture that it is difficult to separate them out. From the ancient arts of Tai Chi and Kung Fu to the most basic elements of writing with a brush, the concept of balance, finding harmony in the universe, permeates everything. Yet Taoism is not a specific religion or school of thought based on a specific collection of ancient texts. Taoism is more of an abstract idea that gets played out in painting, architecture, landscaping, meditation, military tactics, writing, cooking and the myriad acts and arts that make up life.

Most often Taoism is literally translated as “the path” or “the way,” which isn’t particularly helpful to understanding what “path” that might mean. In one way it can be thought of as the “ethical” way. But Taoism can also be interpreted as the path of least resistance. Overall the Tao is better thought of as “seeking balance.” In Chinese landscape paintings for example there is a concerted effort to portray a balance of elements and energies. The mountains, solid and immovable, are cut by water, fluid and ethereal. They co-exist and yet both push and pull against one another. Rock may stand in the river’s way but water will seek a path down and eventually wear its way through the rock. There is always this give and take such that you reach an effortless balance, precisely like the arm of a scale hovering in equilibrium. It’s a matter of “is” and “isn’t” in equal doses.

Creating art in China is very much an exercise and an exploration of Taoist balance, even when it isn’t called that by name. Buying arts in China is too. Westerners who go in seeking the deal, the low cost, the great savings, often come out disappointed. The same is true whether you are buying stone carvings or car parts. People from the West, focused entirely on price, will come away complaining of quality or difficulty in working with suppliers. But the fact is they sought a deal that was unbalanced. When you negotiate in China you are negotiating two things, price and what you will get for that price. You may think price is the only thing that changes in the negotiation, but it is not. The finished product, at least in the mind of the supplier will also fluctuate with the price.

On our trips to China we always try to keep this form of business Taoism, or the Tao of buying, in mind. We are able to find and procure some of our best values when we remember not to seek a price but a balance. It may seem incongruous, but we are often able to offer some of our highest quality items at exceptionally low prices because we sought the Tao of value. Our fine oxblood porcelain pieces are just such an example.

Oxblood porcelain is itself an exercise in balance. The dramatic red coloration, with a certain luster and texture is not simply a matter of glaze and heat. To get that real authentic oxblood there must be a precise balance of glaze ingredients and kiln atmosphere as well as proper temperature. Too much oxygen in the kiln, or not enough and you may end up with blue or purple instead of the brilliant red. It is all a matter of balance.

Original Chinese Watercolor with Tibetan Antelope and Shepherdess

The title of this painting is “The Song of the Shepherd,” as inscribed in Chinese characters along the top of the painting. The sharp detail of the inks and sparse use of vibrant colors creates an evocative scene. The animals in the painting appear to be Tibetan antelope, a threatened species widely poached for valuable skins and wool. By pairing the shepherdess with these endangered animals, the artist makes a comment on China’s disappearing traditions. This beautifully rendered painting pays tribute to the history and folklore of China’s West.

From the northern Gobi rangelands to the southern Tibetan Plateau, the western reaches of China are home to nomadic ethnicities and cultures. Geographically the area is characterized by arid grasslands, deserts and towering mountain ranges. The summer heat can be oppressive and the winter chill is routinely sub zero. For centuries, survival in the region depended on nomadic traditions of herding livestock and journeying from established homesteads to distant pastures. To this day the area has the largest sheep and goat population in the world. Even in the dark ages, before "Walkmans" and "iPods", music and song was an important part of local cultures as they traveled with their livestock. Throat singing and tunes played on a Dombra, a traditional instrument stringed with sheep intestine, were mainstays in the ears of local populations.

The style of this painting, a one of a kind original, employs a unique combination of simple “fast brush” work with isolated areas of finer detail. The grassland and animals are almost mere blotches of color fading off into the bare white background of the rice paper. In contrast the figure is created with dark defining brush strokes and brighter colors. The result is captivating. The shepherdess stares out at you from her fading environment. She is not quite pleading or desperate, but simply observing. Both the character and viewer are paying witness to a tide of progress. The painting does not seem to stage an abject protest but only seeks to make record and prompt you to ask yourself if this is the right path for civilization to take.

You can view more vintage and contemporary watercolor paintings at reorient.biz.

Bodhidharma, Ancient Buddhist Sage and Originator of Zen

Bodhidharma, also know as Batua, Daruma or Dot Mor is credited with bringing both Kung Fu and Buddhism to China in the 5^th or 6^th century. He practiced a deep self-introspection that at the time was often called “wall gazing” but today we know it as meditation. He spoke of the Bodhisattva entering the minds of those who could recognize and accept the truth of self-realization, become masters of their minds and accept Buddha. In legend the figure is closely bound to ideas about spiritual, intellectual and physical wholeness, an indivisible singularity or enlightenment that is said to be the root of both Zen Buddhism in Japan and China’s Chan school of thought.

Bodhidharma practiced a kind of fighting exercise, said to represent the five animal forms of Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Snake and Crane. The style was adopted by his disciples and refined over the centuries. There is some association with Bodhidharma at the Shaolin temple. Some say Emperor Xiaowen erected the temple in his honor. Other histories maintain that when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin, he was confronted by a wall, upon which he meditated for nine years. Upon his departure manuscripts were discovered including the basic descriptions for Qigong or Yì Jīn Jīng.

Without getting too specific, it is safe to say that Bodhidharma is an extremely important figure in the legends and culture of Asia. He is most often depicted with wide eyes and a bushy beard. He is a traveler, having spread the ideas of Buddhism and self-discovery/discipline from the Himalayas to Mt Fuji, from the Mekong Delta to the Gobi Desert. He is even credited with the advent of tea as one story says that during his nine years of meditation in Shaolin he cut off his eyelids to fend off sleep. From his discarded eyelids grew the first tea plants, which is why tea keeps you awake.

As with many aspects of Chinese culture, Bodhidharma represents a convergence of philosophies and history. Buddhist and Taoist ideals often merge, both seeking a certain wholeness of thought and being. The legends of Bodhidharma also bridge these two worlds as Taoism is largely incorporated into Kung Fu and Tai Chi, both draw on the meditation and self control that were cornerstones of Bodhidharma’s teachings.

The Elephant as Symbol in Chinese Art

The elephant in Chinese art is a symbol of strength and wisdom. It also bears some reference to Buddhism as the elephant is a sacred animal in Buddhist traditions. In China the Buddha is sometimes depicted riding an elephant, which may reference the religion’s origin as transported from India.

The word for Elephant in Chinese is pronounced and written the same as the word for “sign” or “things to come,” so pairing elephants with other symbols creates a kind of pun.

A stone elephant emphasizes the concept of strength or power while an elephant with a vase can be interpreted as a sign of peaceful times. The words for “peace” and “vase” in Chinese have close pronunciations. It is also legend that during the Qing Dynasty elephants carrying vases on their backs were featured in parades celebrating the Emperors birthday.

Our elephant candle sticks, made of hand painted blue and white porcelain, draw from this tradition. The actual candle holder is a stylized vase, perched on the elephant’s back. Putting this set on your dinning room table declares peace in the home.

Another popular motif shows a young boy riding on the back of an elephant. This pairing announces the arrival of good fortune. In Chinese the phrase “elephant rider” sounds similar to “auspicious” or “fortunate.” Our Celadon teapot is an artistic adoption of this ancient Chinese theme. The teapot itself is formed like an elephant and its removable lid is shaped like the rider.

Reorient has many elephant items, including vases and planters. All are hand made and are personally selected by us on our buying trips to China. The porcelain candle holders shown on this page are a slightly vintage find. They were produced in the late 1980s. The characteristic variance in the blue cobalt glaze is a tell tale sign of an old style coal or wood fired kilns. The heat in these kilns is not always uniform resulting in the slightly faded look of the hand painting.

Roosters: Themes in Chinese Art

The Chinese language is replete with homonyms. The meaning of a word can be entirely altered simply by the speaker’s intonation or inflection. This gives way to extensive punning, both for humor and arts. A popular example is the word Fu, which can mean “good fortune” or “bats”. Therefore bats are considered good luck in China and are often used as decorative elements in furniture or décor items. In Western culture bats are often associated with vampires and the like, but in China they are among the most potent of good luck symbols. Fu can also be translated as “blessings”, implying not just good luck but divine good luck.

Almost every sound in the Chinese language is given to the same sort of double meaning. The word play often crops up in visual arts. A painting of a fish has the double meaning of “prosperity”, a Rohdea Japonica flower (also called a Sacred Lilly) is homonymous with “Ten Thousand” or a Hibiscus can be used as a pun for “wealth”. It is a very rich language to mine for both wit and artistic meanings.

The Rooster is another animal that may not be highly prized in Western culture, but in China they are considered emblems of high rank and well wishes. The written Chinese for “rooster” is a combination of two characters, both make puns. Part of the word can imply “auspicious” while the other half makes a play on “nobleman” or more specifically “Duke”. The image of a rooster therefore implies both high rank and honor. Roosters are also thought to ward off evil as their crow marks the daybreak, ending the night and chasing away its shadows and evil spirits.

How to Give Peace to Your Friends and Family

The Holidays are here and its time to wonder about what makes a good gift, particularly for those who you don’t know all that well but still need to give a gift to. Business associates are always difficult. They need something appropriate, not over the top but certainly not cheap or thoughtless either. When you know every little about a person gift giving can be challenging.

Luckily there is some Chinese culture that comes in handy here. In China one of the best gifts you can give is a vase. That’s because the words for “vase” and “peace” in Chinese are remarkably similar. So when you give a vase as a gift you are actually offering peace and friendship. Isn’t that what the holidays are all about anyway?

Now the really great thing about vases is they don’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. This is one case where size really doesn’t matter. You can choose a vase that suits your budget, your shipping carton or a certain color scheme. No matter your choice you’re still giving peace.

The vase is also one of the 8 auspicious symbols from Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The symbols are thought to bring peace and good fortune and are often used as decorative elements in Asian arts. The vase in particular represents a container of health and wealth, from medicines to money, and is a symbol of the fulfillment of wishes.

Reorient has vases, more than we can count. Porcelain vases, cloisonné vases, ceramic vases and even stone vases, all of them symbolize peace and good wishes. Here are a few examples to consider.

A vase with a crackle finish has a stoic and stately look. When you want to add levity to a décor the crackling adds a touch of instant history. In Chinese arts however, there is another depth of meaning. The word “crackle” is a homophone, which implies “year after year.” Giving a vase with a crackle finish means you wish the recipient continuous peace and well being.

A vase with a Peony, the flower of wealth and rank in China, makes for a wish
of peace and prosperity. The example pictured is a cloisonné vase. Cloisonné is a metal ware and can extend the metaphor to mean an “unbreakable” peace and prosperity.

A vase with profuse bloom makes a play on words in Chinese and can mean "may everything be auspicious."

A vase with pomegranates adds hopes for future generations to the symbolism.

The China rose is a unique flower in that it blooms all year round so a vase with roses indicates a wish for peace throughout the four seasons.

But the most potent symbol to combine with a vase is a dragon. Dragons are among the most powerful forces for good that exist. Dragons bring wealth, stability and nobility. Reorient has some very special vases with dragons for the holiday season. Our newest addition is this cloisonné pair of vases with dragons depicted wrapping around the vase body. The workmanship is extremely fine, representing some of China’s best hand crafted art. The colors are rich and vibrant and the detail is truly beautiful. The set is a vintage production from the late 1970s and is a one of a kind item. If you know a collector who appreciates fine Asian arts this is a real find to consider. If dragons are your passion you can find many more dragon themed items at the store.

Chinese Contemporary Art

The Cultural Revolution was a chapter of unprecedented upheaval in Chinese history; sitting on a soft pillow instead of a hard chair could earn you a stern accusation of being a counter revolutionary. The political and social atmosphere rivaled anything George Orwell put in his fictional 1984. Truth is stranger than fiction.

It is it any wonder then that contemporary Chinese art expresses a degree of cynicism? People who lived through 20^th century China experienced a shift from ancient Dynastic rule to near anarchy to sleek skyscrapers shooting up out of the rubble. Civil war, invading forces and a complete cultural reboot has culminated today in a hungry consumer culture and new frontier of rising tycoons. Where once the poor worker was heralded as China’s undisputable hero, the shopper now reigns supreme. Really, how could you not be cynical?

The art trend, dubbed Cynical Realism, is characterized by stark colors and subject, mixed with some recognizable symbols or archetypes and peppered with absurdity. It is a unique expression that captures the moment in Chinese history so accurately, yet seems to leave so much unsaid. Speaking without saying is in itself an art form in China as historically one never knows when they are running afoul of the sometimes murky lines of censorship and legality.

At Reorient we have collected Chinese art for decades, both professionally and as a personal passion. We are very proud to offer a selection of original Cynical Realism paintings. While the artists represented in our selections are not the same ones whose works now fetch millions at auctions by Christie’s and other top line art market makers, they do follow in the same foot steps, exhibit some of the same forms and certainly emerged from the same crucible.

Please browse our current selections and check back as we build on our latest fascination with the Far East.