Silver Cup In The Shape Of A Tree-like Canoe By Zhu Bishan — Zhu Bishan (act. 13th-14th C.)

Silver Cup in the Shape of a Tree-like Canoe by Zhu Bishan

Admire Zhu Bishan’s ‘Silver Cup Canoe.’ This exquisite 14th-century silverwork depicts a Taoist scholar within a tree-like boat. A rare & stunning piece of Chinese art.


Zhu Bishan (Act. 13Th-14Th C.)

Zhu Bishan was a prominent Yuan dynasty painter known for his bamboo landscapes and ink wash techniques, capturing the essence of nature with minimalist elegance; discover the serene beauty of this 13th-14th century master.

This silver canoe is shaped like an old tree trunk with one end curling upward and covered with the rugged texture of the bark of a pine tree. Central to the work is a Taoist practitioner with a topknot hair-style and typical religious attire, including thick-soled shoes and a long, ample robe. He sits on the canoe with his eyes riveted upon a book in his hand. Dragon Canoe (Long cha, two distinct characters) is carved on the stern of the small boat. The fifteen characters carved on the rim of the cup may be translated as