清乾隆 犀角雕虎溪三笑杯|Cup depicting Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine

Unknown

18th century · Rhinoceros horn · Asian Art

Huddled beneath a cliff, a famous poet (Tao Yuanming, 365–427), a Daoist priest (Lu Xiujing, 406–477), and a Buddhist monk (Huiyuan, 334–416) burst into unrestrained laugher as the monk unintentionally breaks a vow by crossing the bridge separating his monastery from the mundane world. This widely depicted scene serves as a parable for the importance of crossing boundaries in the pursuit of understanding.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th century

Medium

Rhinoceros horn

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1908