Talismanic ChangSha Bowl with Makara Fish and Arabian Dhow

The Changsha bowl depicting an Arabian dhow with Buddhist symbolism is singular and fascinating
for a range of very important reasons.

It is believed to be the earliest surviving depiction of an ocean-going ship in Chinese history.

It is also unique, in that it is thought to be the only Chinese ceramic bowl illustrating an Arabian
dhow.

The distinctiveness of the bowl, the topical nature of its symbolism and narrative, suggests this was a
singular piece, expressly produced by a skilled Tang Dynasty artisan as a gift to the Arab navigators,
and talismanic offering. Quite probably the dhow rendered by the artist is intended to represent the
very same dhow carrying the precious Tang cargo, the Arabian dhow that then foundered at Belitung
in 826AD.

As well as being decorated with an Arabian dhow, the green glazed stoneware Changsha bowl
incorporates Buddhist iconographies: a 'Makara' fish, a turtle and 3 wild geese.

Changsha Bowl with Makara Fish and Arabian Dhow

Changsha, Hunan Province, China
Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD)
H: 5.0cm, : 15.0cm

The Makara fish at first sight appears a large threatening creature, which might have led some to see
the great fish as attacking the dhow, and given rise to various malign interpretations concerning the
meaning of this bowl.
However, this hostile interpretation is directly at odds with the historic context, with the other
symbolism sharing the bowl, and indeed with the mythical character of the fish itself.

The shipwreck was carrying an extremely valuable cargo, including an Imperial gift from the Tang
Emperor himself. That a bowl illustrating a frightening fate would be taken on board an emissary
ship embarking on a long and extremely dangerous journey is highly questionable, particularly given
the fatidic beliefs of the era.

To read the symbolism, the renowned Prof. Zhou Min Ne explains that in ancient China, 'Heaven'
was seen as circular, and 'Earth' square. As is the case with all of the Changsha bowls from the
Belitung shipwreck, there are four iron-brown 'corners' (dips). The brown glaze around the lip of the
entire bowl, represents the continuous and circular 'Heaven'. While, at the same time, the four dips
make the greenish remainder of each bowl appear square, thus symbolizing 'Earth'.

The extended brown area of the bowl may then represent heavens opaqueness, it's mystery. Prof.
Zhou thinks that the Makara fish thus appears from heaven to protect the Arabian dhow from the
great dangers of the voyage, with its traditional apotropaic powers.

Considering the Makara together with the turtle, a symbol of longevity, and the wild geese, symbolic
of 'finding ones way home from a long journey', Prof. Zhou concludes that this bowl could have been
one of the last items passed to the dignitary of the vessel as a talisman, with the wishes that this
bowl safeguard his journey back home.

The bowl therefore speaks directly about the ancient maritime silk route, about well-wishes from
the Chinese people to the visiting Arabs, about the perilous journeys and the brave sailors who made
them. The historical significance, narrative power, and uniqueness of this bowl is immense, making it
one of the central pieces from the shipwreck, and also major discovery from the Tang Dynasty.