One of Four Treasures of the Study's water tanks?

The water tank is an essential tool in the traditional handicraft study in China. It has a long history and is deeply loved by literati in past dynasties. Because it is used to hold water, it is mostly made of metal, ceramics and so on. Because of this, some very precious and valuable ancient kettles (also known as Shuicheng, Shuizhu and Yandi) can be preserved to this day. Perhaps, from these cultural relics, we can see how much the ancients loved water tanks. This water diversion jar remains in the world and is of great significance to the study of ancient learning culture.

In ancient times, water basins were mainly practical, but now they are more used for viewing and displaying. It is placed on the case of the study, accompanied by the inkstone field, opposite to the literati. Therefore, it must conform to the owner's hobby and aesthetic taste, including its material, technology, modeling, decoration, painting and so on. In addition, from the way of keeping in good health, the water bowl can nourish the mind, and the people who love the bowl can use it to make their heads clear. "Once the dirt in the world is washed away, it will be refreshing." From a psychological point of view, the water bowl can help Si Wen: "The treasures of several cases can be pleasing to the eye." In addition, most of the basins are small, but they are exquisitely made, which can better consider the cultural literacy and skill level of craftsmen. Therefore, the water bowl is called "the extreme of elegant play in the study, the soul of literati's elegant taste", and even has the nicknames of "Cheng Xiong" and "Chengyou".

The shapes of water tanks are varied and ever-changing, but most of them are conformal and pictographic, and some are square, round, oblate, vertical or oval. In terms of materials, there are rich materials, such as clay, porcelain, copper, jade, crystal, tortoise shell, turquoise and agate. Its colors and patterns are even more colorful, such as sapphire blue, Hong Jun, emerald green, black gold, lotus green, goose yellow, figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, cordyceps and so on.

The theme of "inkstone drops" in blue and white porcelain in Song and Yuan Dynasties is very extensive. Today's models are dragon head, phoenix head, boy, toad, toad, unicorn, tortoise and snake, Tianlu, Yuanyang, tripod, deer, elephant, fish, rabbit and boat. Geometry has hexagon, drum, cylinder, prism and so on. The rest is the length of Fiona Fang, with countless sculptures and carvings of fruits, flowers and plants. You can call it "water injection" when you see the mouth, and you can call it "water injection" when you don't have a mouth and a water hole. You must use another dropper.

Ink Drop caters to the spiritual demands of literati in its shape, and its theme implication is also related to the folk customs in the Song Dynasty. There are many "toads" in Shu Di in the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, which is more common in the Song Dynasty, implying the meaning of "the moon breaks the laurel". The image of onomatopoeic words of "inkstone drops" in Song and Yuan celadon is mostly related to water. On the one hand, it is a reservoir, and on the other hand, it uses supernatural things to ward off evil spirits and avoid harm, which also coincides with the theme of Fuxi innate gossip. Xu Hu's Book of Changes said: "The book drips water, and there are two holes on the top and bottom, which can drain water. This is the meaning of the hexagrams flowing in the upper and lower yin and the middle yang. "

Since the water bowl is an instrument of the literati's desk and a close thing, it is necessary to be fashionable and tasteful, match your own taste, and of course decorate your desk to bring pleasure in bathing, touching and playing, focusing on a beautiful angle, which is the spiritual sustenance beyond things. On the other hand, it is difficult to grasp whether to emphasize practicality or appreciation. For the painter, it is also a bit what Zhuangzi called "useless, useful".

Therefore, the kettle in the study is so rich in shapes that we don't know how many kinds there are. How many kinds of basins have been created by literati and craftsmen in the past dynasties? Maybe there is no fixed number at all, because it is a product of personal imagination, a product of careful conception, a random emotion, a temporary idea, and the result of interest and improvisation. How can we be fixed and rigid? In fact, it is the product of the so-called "one flower, one world" concept, which enlightens us that no matter who the collection can contact131kloc-0/7 {① 30 Ling}, no matter whose work it is, it is the crystallization of his world and should also be the most essential and personalized expression of his world. Therefore, different shapes, liveliness and freedom, and the same function are the biggest characteristics of the water tank.

Its types have their own characteristics and obvious functional consistency. After all, everyone pays attention to small size and large internal space capacity. You see, the shape is smart and restrained, it doesn't occupy space there, it doesn't stand out, it looks elegant, and it has to be matched with other study rooms. It seems that it is not accurate to describe it with a word "small". I think it is more appropriate to sum it up with a word "Qiao".