Ink Tablet with Two Phoenixes Design 1875 - 1933

This ink tablet with two phoenixes design was made by Cheng Junfang, sometime between 1541 and 1620. In Ming Dynasty China, the phoenix was an emblem of the empress and a symbol of auspicious times. Ink tablets like this weren't mere utilitarian objects; they were often works of art, reflecting the refined tastes of the educated elite. The phoenix, a mythical bird, carries rich cultural baggage. In traditional Chinese cosmology, it represents the feminine, yin energy, and is often paired with the dragon, representing masculine, yang energy. The image refers to courtly culture and its elaborate system of symbols, rituals and hierarchies. To fully appreciate this ink tablet, we need to look at manuals on Ming Dynasty art. Considering the social conditions and the politics of imagery is crucial. This allows us to understand its role as both a functional object and a statement of cultural values.