This exceptional 16th century Chinese Ming bowl with a magnificent landscape with cranes was manufactured under the reign of emperor Jiajing, during the Ming Dynasty.
The decorations on Jiajing porcelain show a strong Taoist influence, because Jiajing was a fervent follower of Taoism.
According to tradition, the Chinese heavenly cranes (tian-he) or blessed cranes (xian-he) were messengers of wisdom. The legendary Taoist profundities were said to be carried on the back of a crane.
