Chinese mensen en hun weeg- en meetgebruiken 1682 - 1711

Pieter Schenk's etching depicts Chinese people and their weighing and measuring customs. At the center, a man uses a balance scale, while onlookers display an emblem with a long-tailed bird at its apex. Consider the bird, a symbol of transformation and transcendence throughout history. In ancient Egypt, the Bennu bird, a relative of the heron, symbolized rebirth and renewal, echoing the rising sun and the cyclical nature of time. This motif migrated through various cultures. In Greco-Roman mythology, the phoenix rises from ashes, embodying resilience and the eternal return. The presence of this emblem alongside the act of weighing suggests a culture deeply invested in balance, not just in commerce, but in a cosmic sense. It echoes an ancient desire to find equilibrium, reminding us that these symbols are not confined to specific eras. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, continually engaging our collective memory.