{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O166247"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166247/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT8736/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT8736/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT8736","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O166247/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O166247","accessionNumber":"C.976-1910","objectType":"Brushpot","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This brushpot is decorated with an image of Kui Xing, the God of Literature, standing on one leg on the head of a mythical creature called Ao. Kui Xing holds a writing brush in his right hand and a measure of grain (<i>dou</i>) in his left hand. The measure represents a container for wisdom and inspiration.\r\n\r\nThe traditions says that Kui Xing, having passed first at the imperial examination, was not awarded the golden rose usually given to the best candidate due to his ugliness. Humiliated, he threw himself in a river where he was saved by a water monster. \r\n\r\nKui Xing is worshipped by candidates to the imperial examinations, and dreaming of him the night before the exams was considered an auspicious sign. The candidate who obtained the highest results, known as the First Scholar (<i>zhangyuan</i>), would walk first on a staircase decorated with the <i>ao</i> design. Representations of Kui Xing and Ao are thus a symbol of literary success and highest achievement at the imperial examinations.","physicalDescription":"Porcelain brushpot painted in underglaze blue and red with a scene representing the god-star Kui Xing flying above waves; a lozenge-shaped mark is painted in underglaze blue on the base","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"}],"techniques":[{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},{"text":"blue and white and red","id":"x44545"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and red","categories":[{"text":"Porcelain","id":"THES48907"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Household objects","id":"THES48939"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qing","id":"AAT18478"},{"text":"Kangxi","id":"AAT18482"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2008BT8736"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"145 (VA)","id":"THES49865"},"free":"","case":"21","shelf":"1","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Brush pot","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Jingdezhen","id":"x32230"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1700-1720","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1720-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"14.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"18.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"A lozenge with ribbon on the base","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Porcelain brushpot painted in underglaze blue and red with Kui Xing, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign, ca. 1700-20","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Bushell, Stephen, Chinese Art Volume II. Victoria and Albert Museum Art Handbook. London, H. M. Stationery Office, 1906.","id":"AUTH403663"},"details":"fig. 59","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Kui Xing","id":"N7934"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Brush pot\r\nDecorated in blue and red \r\nMark, the emblem for a painting\r\nReign period of Kangxi (1662-1722)\r\nC.976-1910","date":{"text":"up to 2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}},{"text":"Brush pot with Kui Xing (God of Examinations) \r\nChina, Kangxi reign, 1700-20, painted in underglaze blue and red, with lozenge-shaped mark on the base \r\nMuseum no. C.976-1910. Salting Bequest","date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.976-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"976","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2008-08-21","availableToBook":false}}