A Chinese porcelain underglaze copper-red and blue 'Laozi' vase, tianqiuping, 18th century, painted with Laozi and his attendant riding an ox atop swirling clouds as an onlooker bids them farewell, the background a mountainous landscape scene with...

A Chinese porcelain underglaze copper-red and blue 'Laozi' vase, tianqiuping, 18th century, painted with Laozi and his attendant riding an ox atop swirling clouds as an onlooker bids them farewell, the background a mountainous landscape scene with pine trees and waterfalls, apocryphal Chenghua mark to base, 29.5cm high Note: The depiction of Laozi atop an ox represents the Daoist belief in naturalness and ‘doing through not doing (wu wei er zhi)’. According to Chinese legend, Laozi left China for the unsettled frontier to the West, due of corrupt rulers and the moral decay of society. As he left on his ox he was stopped at the Western border and was asked to write down his philosophy, which was known later as Daoism’s most famous text, the Tao-te Ching, which dates back to the 6th century BC.
品相報告 Condition Report: An impact to the body has left a star crack and resulting hairlines. There is a residue left around the rim and upper part of the neck. Some surface wear and firing & glaze flaws present.