An underglaze-blue and copper-red 'Romance of the Western Chamber' dish, Qing dynasty, Early Kangxi period | 清康熙初 青花釉裏紅西廂記人物故事圖盤

Finely painted, the present dish depicts a scene from the popular tale 'Romance of the Western Chamber'. In the scene, the monk to the left, Huiming, is volunteering to deliver a letter from Zhang Sheng, depicted in the center of the dish, to Zhang's childhood friend, the 'White Horse General'. In a sense of urgency, Huiming points to the raised banners depicted in the far distance, signaling the forthcoming local bandit, Huang Feihu, who is approaching to raid the monastery and demand that Yingying be his wife. This scene marks a turning point in Zhang and Yingying's relationship in the story, where Zhang is able to help protect Yingying from the barbaric Huang, and eventually marry Yingying in the end.