LOT 257 A Chinese cinnabar lacquer 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' lobed box, 18th century, finely
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A Chinese cinnabar lacquer 'Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove' lobed box, 18th century, finely carved to the cover with 'The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove', depicting two scholars playing weiqi while another watches, two scholars are discussing a Daoist scroll, and two are crossing a bridge with an attendant, engaged in discussion, all inside a Greek key border, the sides carved with floral motifs, 14cm wide Provenance: Private London collection Notes: The period of some 400 years following on from the fall of the Han dynasty in AD 220 was marked by political and social turmoil, especially during the bloody Three Kingdoms period. The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove ???? were a group of scholars that had become disillusioned with governmental service during this time, instead choosing to dedicate their time to poetry, music, Daoist-inspired discussions, and sometimes heavy drinking. The Seven Sages have become emblematic of the retreat from public life, and of the struggle of scholars against corrupt political practices and restrictive Confucian rules. References to the Seven Sages are found throughout Chinese and Japanese art and literature, and were particularly popular during the late Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. The rise in popularity during this time can be attributed to the social and political upheavals experienced during the transition between the two dynasties, in which many officials faced the difficult decision of whether to serve the new Qing dynasty. The motif of the Seven Sages retreating from the pressure of governmental service would therefore have appealed greatly to these yimin (leftover subjects)
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