Chinese Porcelain Large Imperial Yellow and Underglaze Blue'Nine Dragon Dish' c

  

Chinese Porcelain Large Imperial Yellow and Underglaze Blue'Nine Dragon Dish'. With a foliate rim and the interior vibrantly decorated with a central medallion enclosing a writhing underglaze blue five-clawed frontal dragon against a ground of imperial yellow amidst large scroll and stylised blossoming flower lotus heads borne on continuous scrollwork, surrounded on the cavetto with a further four underglaze blue five clawed dragons residing amidst further lotus heads also borne on continuous scrollwork. The cavettos with side-facing dragons.

The reverse with similar decorations again with four five clawed dragons and a six-character linear underglaze mark to lip. A band of blue and white crashing waves encircling the rim of the dish. This decorative element of a'flower with leaf flourish and scrolls', known as'Bao Xiang Hua'.

In Chinese culture, a front-facing dragon, especially in Feng Shui, symbolizes drawing in success and power, rather than scattering energy outwards. It is considered an auspicious symbol of good fortune, strength, and wisdom, often used to represent imperial authority and ward off evil. In traditional Chinese imperial symbolism, a front-facing dragon, especially with five claws, is a powerful symbol of the emperor and imperial power.

Sometimes called the sacred lotus and is the true Lotus. It grows from the bottom of ponds and emerges from the mud unsullied and represents purity. The Lotus Flower has other great symbolic meaning and plays an important role in the everyday lives of many Chinese people. The plant comes in a variety of colours and has a waxy green leaf. They can grow anywhere from three to six feet tall, and may reach up to four feet wide.

Lotus flower represents the sixth month of the year in Chinese symbolisms and thus is also representative of the summer. The lotus is of the utmost importance in Chinese culture for numerous reasons, including religious symbolism, marriage symbolism, and food usage. In Buddhism, which is the primary religion of China, the lotus acts as a spiritual symbol in many ways. Indeed the Lotus plant represents one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism. Diameter approx 40.5 cms.