A Chinese famille rose dish

Of circular form, decorated in famille rose enamels, painted with a scene on the three Star Gods on a cliffside surrounded by pine looking towards a turbulent sea, the eight other Immortals, Li Tieguai, Han Zhongli, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, He Xiangu, Lu Dongbin, Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojie, are balancing on the waves in a canoe, while one of the twins, He-He er Xian, holds his toad on the cliffside, with three pink floral sprays on the reverse, the base with a square commendation mark in red. Period: Republic (1912 - 1949). Diameter: 47 cm.

This dish depicts the Daoist tale of The Eight Immortals Cross the Sea (八仙過海), which can be found in Journey to the East by Wu Yantai. The story goes that, when travelling to the Fairy Peach Conference (八仙過海), the Immortals encounter the Eastern Sea. Lu Dongbin suggests that rather than using clouds - their usual mode of transport - each of them use their unique powers to cross the sea. This story is often seen as showing the benefits of combining individual skills to work towards a common goal, and celebrating one’s individual special abilities.