Vietnamese 17th C. Ceramic Fung Lion Offering Lamp - This Vietnamese ceramic lamp from the 17th century depicts a water gatherer with a carp which has turned into a fung lion. The motif is likely inspired by the Vietnamese legend in which there was an emperor who wanted to create new fung lions becae fung lions bring rain, which helps crops grow. Many animals in the ocean were summoned to have apetition where they had to jump over three gates of rain, and the first animal that could jump over all three would get to be transformed into a Fung Lion. The first fish only made it over the first gate, and the second fish hit his head on the second gate and got its head flattened, so the emperor gave it dragon's whiskers for effort (the catfish). The shrimp came next, but it only got past the second, so the emperor made it look like a miniature dragon. Lastly the carp tried, and it got past all three, so the emperor transformed it into a Fung Lion. Measurements (approximate): 9"H x 6"W.