KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

The four primary scenes depicted on the bowl are described by S. Little, Chinese Ceramics of the Transitional Period 1620-1683, New York, 1984, no. 55. In Little's analysis, the first scene depicts the scene 'The Fulfillment of the Billet-doux', where Zhang Gong and Cui Yingying meet in Zhang Gong's quarters at night. The second scene depicts 'Hong Niang in the Dock', when Hong Nian has just found out that her daughter and Zhang Gong have been having an affair, and kneels before Madame Cui to convince her to forgive Zhang Gong on the condition that he go to the capital to take the examinations. The first panel depicts Zhang Gong and Cui Yingying saying farewell to one another as Zhang Gong departs to take the examinations. The last scene depicts Zhang Gong on his way to the Chang'an, having a dream where he sees a soldier grasping his sword in one arm and Cui Yingying in the other.