Appendix 6

ST-06048 Screen stand with design of Kurukulle

Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Yellow jade from Hotan.

Height44 cm, Width25 cm, Hardness6.5.

Certificate of FTIR scanning:

                               

 

This wooden screen stand with marvelous carving showed flame-shaped rim and base with open work of double dragons in pursuit of pearl. It not only expressed amusing taste but symbol of exorcising evil spirits or praying for blessings. The center of screen was mounted with whole piece of precious yellow jade from Hotan in embossment. The translucent jade with moistness was in excellent quality.  

Hotan jade from Xinjiang province is a very rare jade. It has hardness of 6­ to 6.5, specific gravity of 2.90 to 3.02, and average refractive index of 1.62. Moreover, there were magnificent features, comprising exquisite quality, top tenacity, hardly break, and abrasion resistance. The mild luster and clear translucency strengthen the great value of Hotan jade.  

The tenacity of Hotan jade stood the meticulous carving fluently and perfectly.

 

(Open work of double dragons in pursuit of pearl)

Based on classification of the Hotan jade, yellow jade was much rare even through thousands of years. The value of yellow jade was competed with the best jade, lanolin white jade. 

The embossment of yellow jade performed a unique female Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism, Kurukulle. She represented authority, power, and wisdom. Kurukulle was a dominant image and presented remarkable example of Buddhist devotional art. According to Tibetan Buddhism, practicing teachings of Kurukulle was able to enlighten wisdom, increase abundance of wealth, enlarge power, and etc. It was heard that the respectful emperor Qianlong used to practice the teachings.  

 

The Buddha featured by three round open eyes, flame-shaped eyebrows, Buddhist crown, Buddhist necklace (Yingluo), standing posture in J shape, and steeping on corpse. She possessed four arms with religious instruments. Two hands in the front were drawing a bow that was decorated with flower and foliage. The other right hand held Jingang stick (Vajra) and the other left hand held lotus string. The primary symbol was the bow and arrow.

 

Four arms of Kurukulle typified four successes, comprising avoid misfortune, enrichment, dominance, and destroy evil. Power control and domination will be strengthened through floral bow and arrow, stick, and lotus string.

(Magnification of Buddha eye)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relief carving of this yellow jade performed sophisticated and delicate skill. It conformed to carving craft in Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The skillful feature included uniform width of lines, fluency of intaglio lines, and even rim of lines. Exquisiteness appeared all over. Fine polishing presented sleek and mild luster. 

The magnification of Buddha eyes showed tube carving which was one of methods used in Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The eye pit was also repeatedly carved by instruments. Flame-shaped eyebrows used embossment to emphasize pattern. It was also feature of craft in Qing dynasty. The face displayed vivid muscle and smooth lines. The whole craft showed ordinary and severe skill. Complicated patterns matched with gorgeous style in Qing dynasty. 

Reference:

1. National Palace Museum. Iconology of Tibetan Buddhism, The National Palace Museum Monthly of Chinese Art No.40, Vol. 4, Issue 4. Taipei: National Palace Museum, Jul.1986, p.60.

2. Jin Shen. Art class of Tibetan Buddhism, Taipei: Artist, Aug. 2006, p.140.

3. Editorial Department of Commercial Press. Deities of Esoteric Buddhism, Hong Kong: Commercial, Jun, 2005, p. 58.