Category: Bonsai Figurines

Zhong Kui – The Ghostbuster in Chinese and Japanese Mythology

Post author By Sandy
Post date June 30, 2011
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Bonsai figurine Chinese mythology — Portion of scroll showing Shōki; Late Heian Period; a treasure of the Nara National Museum

Only until recently have I learned from a Japanese bonsai friend that Zhong Kui (鍾馗 in Chinese) is not only a well-known mythology character in Chinese culture, but also in the Japanese culture. Well, I shouldn’t be too surprised since there is so much in common between the two cultures.

In Japanese, Zhong Kui is called Shoki.

The Story of Zhong Kui

It is said that Zhong Kui is the deity who is the king of 80,000 ghosts and demons. According to folklore, Zhong Kui (712-756 AD) was a physician in the Tang era, a man with a very ugly appearance. To advance his career, he took the national examination at the capital and performed brilliantly, scoring the highest among all applicants. But due to his ugly appearance, Zhong Kui was rejected by the emperor. In shame and anger, Zhong Kui committed suicide in front of the emperor. Regretted his wrong committed, the emperor ordered that Zhong Kui be buried with the highest honor. After death, Zhong Kui became the king of ghosts in Hell, and in gratitude, Zhong Kui vowed to be a vanquisher of evil spirits.

The bat is often seen together with Zhong Kui as a symbol of good fortune and happiness.

Look closer, you will find a red bat on the tip of Zhong Kui’s folding fan.

Protector against Evil Spirits & Illness

In China, like many other Feng Shui items, Zhong Kui’s paintings and statues are often placed at the household entrance as a guardian spirit, as well as in places of business with high-valued goods. In Japan, during Edo-period (1615-1868), Shoki was very popular. People hung images of Shoki outside their houses to ward off evil spirits during the Boys’ Day festival (May 5 of each year). Nowadays, Shoki is relatively neglected, except in Kyoto, where residents still decorate their houses with Shoki’s statues to ward off evil and illness, and to protect the male members of the family.

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Zhuge Liang (Kong Ming) – The Crouching Dragon

Post author By Sandy
Post date May 5, 2011
7 Comments on Zhuge Liang (Kong Ming) – The Crouching Dragon

Kong Ming Bonsai Figurine — Zhuge Liang figurine in Happy Bonsai Shop

From time to time, I receive emails from customers asking me for more details about the few figurines of significant Chinese historical characters that are now selling in Happy Bonsai Shop. Some of these figurines are the most popular characters in Chinese history. And today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite Chinese historical character – Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮).

If you play video games, I bet you know him already. Zhuge Liang’s reputation for being an unparalleled genius is fully emphasized in his role in video games (usually his intelligence power is highest among all characters). Or if you have been in China before, you may have come across statues of a man wearing a robe and holding a hand fan made of crane feathers. Yes, that’s Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang Kong Ming Figurine — Zhuge Liang in a video game

Zhuge Liang, also known as Kong Ming (孔明), was a chancellor (Chinese: 丞相) of Shu Han Kingdom during China’s turbulent era of Three Kingdoms (220 -280). He is often recognized as the greatest and most accomplished strategist in Chinese history. Zhuge Liang was also known as a contemporary of Guan Yu, the patron saint of martial arts.

Through researching and self-taught, Zhuge Liang was not only a master in astronomy and geography, but also an expert in military strategy and tactics. In his early year, Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched cottage, working as a farmer while studying (Zhuge Liang’s living in relative aloofness and others’ underestimation of his intelligence are probably how Zhuge Liang earned his nickname – “Crouching Dragon” (臥龍)).

Legend states that Liu Bei (劉備), then a descendent of the royal Han house, heard of Zhuge Liang’s great wisdom and went three times to Zhuge Liang’s little cottage, inviting Zhuge Liang to be his military advisor. Zhuge Liang was touched by Liu Bei’s sincerity. Zhuge Liang then shared his plan of reunifying the whole nation. Liu Bei was enlightened and pleased, adopted Zhuge Liang’s plan – setting up his kingdom in the west and allying with the state of Wu in the East. From then on, Zhuge Liang (by then 26 years old) helped Liu Bei to reunify the nation and establish the Han Dynasty.

Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei through many difficult situations, and his wisdom and achievement were popularized by the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) written in the Ming Dynasty.

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Shiwan Figurine Faces

Shiwan figurines are known for their colorful and lively facial expressions. Here I would like to share with you some photos of the faces of these beautiful ceramic figurines.

For more photos, please visit the album of Shiwan Figurine Faces in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

All photos are taken during my last trip to Shiwan, Foshan.

Bonsai Figurines Featured Articles

Foshan Nanfeng Kiln & Shiwan Chinese Figurines

Post author By Sandy
Post date February 8, 2011
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Shiwan has been known for its beautiful earthenware figurines for hundreds of years. Indeed, the term “Shiwan figurine” is widely used to refer to all sculptures made in Shiwan. While many fans of Shiwan figurines are bonsai lovers who enjoy decorating their bonsai trees with Chinese figurines, others simply love collecting these beautiful artworks, admire the fine, lively details of these handmade figurines.

Last year, with other bonsai lovers, we went to the ancient Nanfeng Kiln – the oldest kiln in China. Here is where the pottery art of Fochan began. The history of the kiln can be tracked back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It is just amazing that this ancient kiln still can operate perfectly.

In Nanfeng Kiln, besides the ancient kiln, watching the process of making pottery and figurines is very interesting as well. Below is a video I took of Nanfeng Kiln’s guest figurine artist – Mr Huo Wei Sheng – when the figurine craftsman was making figurines of the eight immortals.

Unlike many modern kilns that have become very sophisticated and can be calibrated to meet very specific temperatures, in Nanfeng Kiln, the traditional pottery making techniques live on. Timbers are put into the kiln and the temperature can reach up to 1,300 degrees Celsius. Temperature control is especially important when baking figurines and pots.

Instead of depending on modern day’s instruments, temperature is controlled by the skilled artisans according to their experience. Due to the inconstancy of temperature in the timber-burning kiln, it is interesting to see how all figurines and pots are made unique even though they all are bring into and out of the kiln at the same time.

For more photos, please visit the album of Ancient Nanfeng Kiln – Shiwan Chinese figurines in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

Bonsai Figurines Gallery

Good Fun with Figurines in Bonsai

Post author By Sandy
Post date January 18, 2011
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Penjing lovers like using bonsai figurines to decorate their penjing (bonsai in Chinese). Most of these figurines are the traditional Chinese clay figurines of historical or mythology figures. But in the 1st Institute of Lingnan Penjing Competition, I found that beside my use of Doraemon in my penjing, some of my penjing club fellow members also used figurines for their bonsai decoration in some fun, creative ways.

Very tiny these figurines are. Yet, nevertheless, these full-of-details figurines haven’t failed to meet our expectation and bring in life and vivid scenes in our bonsai.

Traditional Chinese figurines always look great in penjing 🙂

For more photos of the 1st Institute of Lingnan Penjing Competition, you can visit Happy Bonsai Gallery.

Bonsai Figurines Gallery

Use of Chinese Figurines in Penjing

Post author By Sandy
Post date December 13, 2010
2 Comments on Use of Chinese Figurines in Penjing

There is something that one can often find in a Chinese penjing but never in a Japanese bonsai. That is Chinese figurine. As mentioned in an earlier post – Figurines in Penjing, instead of focusing on the tree itself, Chinese penjing artists work on creating a miniature natural scene in a bonsai pot or on a marble slab. And with the use of Chinese figurines and mudmen, shacks and pavilion, cows and ducks, penjing artists can complete the illusion of a landscape in a very lively way.

And Chinese clay figurine itself is a valuable, antiquated folk art in China. Every Chinese figurine is handmade; kneaded and colored by hands. The art of Chinese clay figurine can be dated back to the Neolithic Period. However, it was not until the Ming and Qing dynasties that the clay figurine had been substantially produced and became one of the main artworks in the mass’s cultural life.

In last month’s Guangzhou International Bonsai Invitation Exhibition, while I was admiring the beautiful bonsai trees displayed in the bonsai pots, I also noticed and very much appreciated the way many bonsai artists used Chinese figurines in their bonsai to enhance the power and strength of their bonsai trees, as well as to create a more balanced, lively scene.

Here, let me share with you some Chinese figurines are used in some penjing in the bonsai exhibition.

Bonsai Figurines

Figurines in Penjing

Bonsai-Figurine-Mudman — Taken in Bonsai Exhibition of 2010 Hong Kong Flower Show

As mentioned in an earlier post – Chinese Penjing & Japanese Bonsai, one of the major difference between Chinese penjing and Japanese bonsai is the scope of these two related art forms. With the meaning of the words – “bonsai” (盆栽) and “penjing” (盆景), it is clear that while the Japanese bonsai is focusing on the creation of a perfect tree, the Chinese penjing is more of reproducing a miniature natural scene. Many of the elaborate tray sceneries created by Chinese artists clearly defy the parameters of bonsai.

So, Chinese penjing is a little less “strict” and often involves the use of rocks, small figurines and mudmans, multiple trees, and water to complete the illusion of a landscape in a bonsai pot or on a marble slab. Little clay structures like huts, pagodas, boats and bridges are also often use in penjing. And with these traces of human existence that are frequently found in many Chinese painting, the close connection between penjing and painting is obvious.

Figurines have always had a place in Chinese penjing as an aesthetic contribution. In an effort to capture the realism of a favorite scenic view, an intricate part would involve the use of figurines of people, animals, huts and temples, to give an appearance of great age and size to the miniature forests.

Bonsai Figurines

Stories of the Eight Immortals

Post author By Sandy
Post date June 9, 2010
2 Comments on Stories of the Eight Immortals

A few days ago, I showed a set of bonsai figurines of the Eight Immortals to a friend from UK. I didn’t expect him to know anything about the Eight Immortals, and I was about to tell him more of this Chinese folklore. Yet, to my surprise, what my British friend knows of this group of legendary fairies is quite a bit, if not more than I do! (My friend later told me that he did a Wikipedia search after he bought a scroll of the Eight Immortals in Shanghai.)

So, the Eight Immortals are characters found in Chinese folklore. They were actually mortal beings until they performed kind deeds, or got into some miraculous accidents. These Eight Immortals represent all kinds of people – rich, poor, young, old, man, woman, military, cultured, noble. Because they are not gods, they can only visit, but not live in Heaven. These Eight Immortals enjoy traveling. They love to get together and roam around, often causing both laughter and troubles. They fight dragons, steal from Gods, enjoy parties and a good drink.

Below is a brief description of each of the Eight Immortals.

Zhang Guo Lao (張果老)

Zhang Guo Lao is represented as an old man riding a white mule with a tube-shaped musical instrument made of bamboo in his hands. This white mule could get Zhang to incredible distances, and be folded into Zhang’s wallet at the end of each journey. Whenever Zhang wanted to travel again, he would sprinkle water on his wallet and the white mule would reappear.

Zhong Li Quan (鐘离權)

Zhong Li Quan is the Chief of the 8 Immortals. He is the fat guy with his bare belly showing. Zhong always carries a fan and sometimes a peach.

Cao Gou Jiu (曹國舅)

Cao Gou Jiu was the brother of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty and the son of a military commander. He is the finest dressed among the eight immortals. He is always shown wearing formal court dress and carrying castinets.

Li Tie Guai (李鐵拐)

Li Tie Guai is depicted as a beggar with a crutch and a gourd. The legend has it that Li had the magical skill of freeing his soul from his body. One day while Li’s spirit was gone from his body, his body was found and mistakenly thought as dead. It was then burned, as was traditional. When Li returned from his travels, he found that he had lost his body and was forced to enter the body of a lame beggar.

Lu Dong Bin (呂洞賓)

Lu Dong Bin was an 8th-century scholar. Upon his back he wears a magic sword that used to slay dragons and demons. In his hand he carries a fly brush.

Lan Cai He (蓝采和)

Lan Cai He is variously portrayed as a youth, sometimes as a boy, other times as a girl. He/She is the strolling singer who often shown wearing blue robe and carrying a basket of flowers.

He Xian Gu (何仙姑)

One day when He Xian Gu was in the mountain collecting herbs, she met Lu Dong Bin who gave her a magic peach. After He ate the peach, she became immortal with the ability to see the future. He is often seen carrying a magical lotus blossom and a fly-whisk.

Han Xiang Zi (韓湘子)

Han Ziang Zi is the Happy Man. He is said to be the nephew of Han Yu, a famous scholar in Tang Dynasty. Han is always seen playing a flute. It is said that Han could make flowers bloom with his will and soothe wild animals with his music.