Five Old Sages Contemplating the Sun

This work is about ‘Hua di chun’ or five higher deities who, despite their age, were very concerned and worried about the security and prosperity of their nation and people. Here these five old men of virtue are getting together to observe the sun and the weather to determine the impact on the life of people. The work is also aimed to encourage people to emulate these five sages who, though in their 70s or 80s, still are active and engaging like the rising sun, hopeful and vigorous. Who says men of seventy-something couldn’t start over for a new life? Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Shang Tang Engaging Yi Yin to assist him as Premier

This work depicts how Tang, the potential founder of the Shang Dynasty, was persuaded by Yi Yin, a wise man of virtue, to help him overthrow the notorious tyrant Emperor Jie of the Xia Dynasty. Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Liu Bei Inviting Kong Ming as Advisor

This work is based on a famous story entitled “Three Visits to Kong Ming's Thatched Cottage,” derived from the novel entitlted “The Romance of Three Kingdom.” Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Flower Vase: The word “vase,” reads as ‘ping,’ and sound like the word for “ping-an” to means “safe and sound.” It is shown together with the flowers to imply “safe and sound all the year.” Plate of Fruits: Along with joss sticks, flowers, lamps and fruits, this plateful of fruits is offered to worship gods and Buddha to show sincerity and piety and wish peace and happiness. In the fruit plate are gourds, peaches and pomegranates to imply “many sons and many blessings.” Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Pen Holder: A pen is one of the 4 precious things in the study. Along with a pen holder, a ‘must’ for scholars and all the literary men, the holder helps people aspiring to pass the test and get ahead. Pen reads ‘bi’ like the word for “must” to imply “positive or certainly” to get ahead or pass the test. Incense Bruner: A symbol of offerings to worship gods and Buddha, an incense burner, along with joss sticks, flowers, lamps, and fruits, are used to get rid of distracting or bad thoughts. Thus, it helps people achieve a state of mental tranquility. It is also a symbol of piety and devoutness, which enables sincere prayers and wishes to go skyward to the heaven to be answered. It can ward off troubles and disasters and bring peace and luck to people. Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Banana: Banana in Taiwanese is pronounced as “jiao.” which means “call something to grow and prosper;” it sounds like the word ‘jiao-wang’ (to contact) or ‘jiao peng-you’ (to make friends). In the past, it was customary to bring a bunch of bananas along to visit someone for the first time. Parabola: In Chinese, a parabola is called ‘yang-tao,’ the second word of “peach” or ‘tao, for “long life.” Here a “peach” with flowers is for “evergreen in the year, safe and sound: long-life.” Flower Vase: The word “vase” sounds like ‘ping,’ same as the word “ping-an” for “safe and sound.” It is shown together with four-season flowers to symbolize “safe and sound all the year.” Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Camellia Flower: Camellias blooms in spring; they are called ever-green flowers. They are always shown to welcome “New Year,” wishing a thriving year as flowers thrive and flourish. Tea Pot: Teapot or ‘hu’ sounds like the word ‘fu’ meaning “happiness or blessing.” This work uses the spring-greeting flower Camellia, along with a tea pot or ‘hu’ which sounds like the word ‘fu’ for “happiness and blessings” to imply “New Spring arriving as you wish with many blessings for the coming year.” Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Flower Vase: The word “vase” in Chinese pronounced as ‘ping,’ the same as the word “ping-an” meaning “safe and sound.” A vase is a;ways shown together with the flowers of the seasons to imply “safe and sound all the year.” Tea Pot: Teapot reading as ‘hu’ sounds like the word ‘fu’ for “happiness or blessing.” Garlic: Garlic is believed to be a good antidotal vegetable. It is pronounced as ‘suan’ like the word “counting” to imply “praying for good business and good luck.” This work uses the diverse flowers in a vase to symbolize "safe and sound throughout the year." along with a teapot and garlic to wish good business and good luck. Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Bamboo shoot: A bamboo shoot, pronounced as 'sun,' sounds like the word "grandchildren,' implying an auspicious meaning of "many generations of children and countless blessings." Cucumber: Like towel gourd, a cucumber is adopted for its pharse 'gua-die mian-mian' to express a wish for "the family to grow and prosper like spreading melon-vines forever." Carrot: A carrot, also red 'Cai-tou' has the lucky red color for "good profit and good omen." Radish: A radish, known in Taiwanese as 'Cai Tou,' sounds like the word "good omen." Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Flower Vase: The word "vase," pronounced as 'ping.' is like the word for 'ping-an,' or "safe and sound." It is always shown together with four-season flowers for "safe and sound all the year." Tea Pot: Teapot, pronounced as 'hu,' sounds like the word 'fu' for "happiness or blessing." Garlic: Garlic is believed to be a good antidotal vegetable; it reads, 'suan.' like the word for "counting," to imply "praying for good business and good luck." This work uses a vase with the flowers for "safe and sound throughout the year," and the teapot and garlic to wish good business and good luck. Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Towel Gourd: The phrase 'gua-die' means many small melons growing endlessly on the vines. Thus, a towel gourd is here to pray for a family to be growing and prospering as melon vines spread. Finger Citron: A finger citron or Buddha's hand is like grasping money; it stands for "wealth and divine protection. In 'fo shou,' 'fo' sounds like 'fu' meaning "happiness" and 'shou' is the word for "long life." Citron or 'gan-ji' is "sweet and luck" and "as lucky, blessed as one wish." This work uses melons and fruits to wish for a "productive family to grow, prosper and spreads melon-vines. With 'fo-shou' for good luck, they imply "many children and many blessings." Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple

Bo-gu Pillar Wall Panel

Garlic: Garlic is believed to be a good antidotal vegetable. It is pronounced as 'suan,' which sounds like the word "counting “implying” praying for good business and good luck." Onion: Onion, pronounced as 'cong,' sounds the same as the first character of the word 'cong ming,' meaning "clever and bright." Cucumber : Like towel gourd, a cucumber is adopted for the phrase, 'gua-die rnian-mian,' "large and small melons," which is meant to express a wish for the family to grow and prosper like spreading melon-vines forever. Carrot: A carrot, also known as red 'Cai-tou,' or "cabbage head," has the lucky red color to symbolize "good profit," and the 'Cai-tou' in Taiwanese is a symbol of "good omen." Radish: A radish, called as 'Cai-tou' or a banner for celebrations, is a symbol of “good omen.” Source:Beauty of the Koji Pottery Art-Taipei Confucius Temple