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Plate with Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi enjoying zither music

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Shunzhi period (1644–61)

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 221

This plate exemplifies a transitional stage in polychromatic Chinese porcelain. Blue is still painted with underglaze cobalt, while all the other colors are achieved with overglaze enamel. The plate illustrates a story about a deep bond between music connoisseurs from ancient China. Yu Boya—a legendary qin zither musician active in the sixth century BCE—is moved by insightful comments on his playing by the humble woodcutter Zhong Ziqi, who likened the music to a lofty mountain and a running river.

Plate with Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi enjoying zither music, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under and colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Plate with Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi enjoying zither music, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under and colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China

Plate with Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi enjoying zither music, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under and colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware), China

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

清順治景德鎮窯青花五彩知音圖盤

Title: Plate with Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi enjoying zither music

Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Shunzhi period (1644–61)

Culture: China

Medium: Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under and colored enamels over a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware)

Dimensions: H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Diam. 14 in. (35.6 cm)

Classification: Ceramics

Credit Line: Promised Gift of Julia and John Curtis, in celebration of the Museum’s 150th Anniversary

Accession Number: L.2017.53.4

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.