Monks in glaze: patronage, kiln origin, and iconography of the Yixian Luohans

Abstract

Monks in Glaze' is a complete reassessment of the famous group of large glazed ceramic sculptures known as the 'Yixian Luohans'. Drawing upon hitherto-unknown epigraphic documents, Eileen Hsiang-ling Hsu proposes a new date (1511-1519) for the group's production and, for the first time, identifies the kiln centre near Beijing as its birthplace. Removed more than one hundred years ago from a massive grotto in northern China, the group's provenance disappeared after its dispersal between 1913 and 1933. Delving into the social and economic issues of religious patronage, imperial workshop practice, and nuanced style of post-Yuan Buddhist art, Hsu convincingly shows that such a large group of masterworks were products of well-developed commercial economy of the Ming dynasty.

Contents

The epigraphic and archaeological record -- History of the Liuli glazed ceramics -- The efflorescence of Ming Sancai sculpture -- Iconography: early development and the Guanxiu tradition -- Iconography: synthesis.