During the lunar New Year holiday period, Chinese, especially those in the south of the country, are always fond of placing a pot of narcissus in their homes as an appropriate commemoration of the occasion. Narcissus represent the immortals, and are seen as auspicious flowers. The pots used in raising narcissus are for the most part elliptical in form, and are commonly called "narcissus dishes". Narcissus dishes are frequently associated with crabs; according to the experience of the author, some of the vessels take on the shape of a lotus leaf, some have their surfaces ornamented with crabs, and some are outright molded as a whole into the form of a crab.

The narcissus dish pictured here, when observed from the front, stares directly at you with its two large eyes, while its pair of massive pincers serve as the supporting feet of the vessel. It seems as though the narcissus is growing on the body of the crab, making quite an interesting picture, much like the ancient legend of the mountain of the immortals upon the sea, which rested on the back of a huge tortoise.

The making of such receptacles into the shapes of animals has been a distinguishing characteristic of the Chinese formative arts since ancient times. This can be seen in the bronze vessels of the imperial Yin and Chou Dynasties, while the crafts of the people also made use of the same kind of workmanship. A motif which is admired by the Chinese people will frequently appear again and again in every conceivable medium.

As concerns the crab, there is a further underlying significance which is often seen in the Chinese ink and water paintings. The paintings often depict a crab grasping a reed or some other water plant in its pincers, walking along all alone, a picture which causes people's mouths to water as they reflect on a nice, fat, autumn crab. Chinese people not only see the crab as a succulent dish suitable for satisfying the desires of both the palate and the stomach; it is also taken to be a symbol of fulfillment in the lives of men. The crab in the paintings is carrying a reed, and the Chinese expression for "carrying a reed" is homonymous with an expression which means "to pass forward"-an expression which was used in reference to the roll calling ceremony for newly accepted officials in the imperial service examinations at the emperor's court in ancient China, with the extended meaning of achieving distinction and success.

Being a sign of promise, the crab's image frequently appears in the adornments on household utensils and implements as well as in paintings. The Chinese people have become especially fond of the crab, to the extent that some small, decorative, desk-top water containers are also made in the shape of a crab. In addition to being a requisite instrument for Chinese painting as well as an interesting curio, such a container in fact also intimates its owner's wish for distinction.

Looked at from another angle, the crab's being a water creature suggests the livelihood of a fisherman and is a symbol of closeness with the natural world; therefore, the appearance of the crab in the arts is also a representation of the Chinese view of nature.

The narcissus dish in this picture has the true flavor of traditional Chinese form; it is an aged product of the Shih-wan kilns in Kwangtung Province. The technique used in making it can be traced back to the t'ang san ts'ai system of the T'ang Dynasty. This kind of vessel, however, is not commonly seen today. The narcissus dish has in the past brought not a little sentiment to the lives of the Chinese people, and its effect today remains much the same. Even though it may not be the season for daffodil blooms, pouring a little water into the dish and adding a few stones along with a number of leaves can bring a bit of color to the empty spaces of our lives just the same.

The Narcissus Dish.