Three Friends in Winter

岁寒三友

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Pines, bamboos, and plum blossoms (prunus) form the ‘Three Friends in Winter’ (岁寒三友) motif. The early blossoming plum is the harbinger of spring; the bamboo bends in wind but does not break; and the pine needles remain green throughout the harsh winter. They all symbolise moral integrity and friendship in difficult times and have been cherished by generations of Chinese literati (scholar-officials).

Related story regarding plum blossom:

Meng Haoran Looking for Plum Blossom on a Snowy Day 孟浩然踏雪寻梅

Acknowledgement:

Fig 1: ‘Three Friends in Winter’, handscroll, ink on paper, Zhao Mengjian 赵孟坚 (1199–1264), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 2: meiping porcelain vase, Hongwu period (1368–98), Ming dynasty, courtesy of Nanjing Museum, China

Fig 3: porcelain bowl with underglaze blue decoration, Yongle period (1403–25), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 4: porcelain dish with underglaze blue decoration, early 15th century, courtesy of the Ethnological Museum, Berlin, Germany

Fig 5: porcelain bowl with underglaze blue decoration, Xuande period (1426–35), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Fig 6: ‘Three Friends in Winter’, hanging scroll, ink on paper, Wen Zhengming 文征明 (1470–1559), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 7: porcelain dish with underglaze blue decoration, Jiajing period (1522–66), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 8: porcelain dish with underglaze blue decoration, Jiajing mark and period (1522–66), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Fig 9: enamelled saucer dish, Tianqi period (1621–1627), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the Butler Family collection

Fig 10-12: famille verte brushpot, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of The Jie Rui Tang Collection

Fig 13-15: lidded porcelain jar with underglaze blue decoration, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the British Museum, London

Fig 16: glass snuff-bottle with enamelled decoration, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 17: falangcai enamelled bowl, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

Fig 18: porcelain basin with underglaze blue decoration, Qing dynasty (1644–1911), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei