Ref: W85
Archive item - not for sale
Extremely fine Chinese blue and white sleeve vase, Chongzhen (1628-1644) circa 1640, the tapering body beneath a trumpet neck, divided by a band of incised decoration, the body decorated in a bright under glaze blue with a narrative scene in a rocky landscape with willow trees, showing the meeting of Li Ling and Su Wu of the Han dynasty, height: 16 3/4in. (42.5cm.) Li Ling, a successful young general under the Han Emperor, surrendered to the Xiongnu tribe after his troops were outnumbered and defeated in Mongolia. The Han Emperor grew suspicious after initially believing Li Ling to have died in battle, denounced him as a traitor and then had his family executed when later reports told of Li Ling supposedly training the enemy's troops (though it was revealed that this was another man with a similar name), believed he was guilty of a plot and had his whole family murdered. As a result Li Ling decided not to return home and defected to the Xiongnu Tribe. The Han Emperor later sent Su Wu as an envoy to the Xiongnu chief, who imprisoned him. As Su Wu and Li Ling had been friends in the past, Li Ling was despatched by the Xiongnu to persuade Su Wu to surrender, but Li Ling was successful as his old friend remained loyal to the Han Emperor. Su Wu was released eighteen years later and during a second meeting between the two men depicted on this vase, Li Ling expressed admiration for Su Wu’s unshakeable integrity and regretted his own poor behaviour. This story expresses a strong political message regarding loyalty to the Emperor when the Empire was under attack from the Manchus. SOLD
