A meiping () is a type of vase in

Chinese ceramics Chinese ceramics show a continuous development since pre-dynastic times and are one of the most significant forms of Chinese art and ceramics globally. The first pottery was made during the Palaeolithic era. Chinese ceramics range from construc ...

. It is traditionally used to display branches of

plum blossom ''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, long ...

s. The meiping was first made of stoneware during the

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

(618–907). It was originally used as a wine vessel, but since the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

(960–1279) it also became popular as a plum vase and got its name "meiping". It is tall, with a narrow base spreading gracefully into a wide body, followed by a sharply-rounded shoulder, a short and narrow neck, and a small opening. They may have lids, and many lids have no doubt been lost. The equivalent shape in

Korean ceramics Korean ceramic history begins with the oldest earthenware from around 8000 BC. Throughout the history, the Korean peninsula has been home to lively, innovative, and sophisticated art making. Long period of stability have allowed for the establi ...

, where it was derived from Chinese examples, is called a

Maebyeong ''Maebyeong'' refers to Korean vessels with a small slightly curled mouth rim, short neck, round shoulder, and constricted waist. The maebyong is derived from the Chinese ''meiping'' (literally "plum vase"). They were first used to hold wine and ...

. A distinct variant is the "truncated meiping", where there is only the top half of the usual shape, giving a squat vase with a wide bottom. This is largely restricted to Cizhou ware.Osborne, Harold (ed), ''The Oxford Companion to the Decorative Arts'', p. 189, 1975, OUP, File:Porcelain Vase.jpg, Cizhou ware, 13th century,

File:Lidded Prunus Vase (Meiping) with Lotus Sprays LACMA AC1999.38.6.1-.2.jpg, Lidded vase with lotus sprays,

Qingbai ware Qingbai ware (青白 qīngbái „green-white“, formerly "Ch'ing-pai" etc.) is a type of Chinese porcelain produced under the Song Dynasty and Yuan dynasty, defined by the ceramic glaze used. Qingbai ware is white with a blue-greenish tint, an ...

, Southern Song period File:耀州窑青釉刻花牡丹纹梅瓶.JPG, Yaozhou ware,

celadon ''Celadon'' () is a term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color, also known as greenware or "green ware" (the term specialists now tend to use), and a type of transparent glaze, often with small cracks, that was ...

, Song dynasty File:Prunus Vase (Meiping) with Horizontal Ribs LACMA AC1994.191.1.jpg, Vase with horizontal ribs, Southern Song period File:Ming Dynasty-Octagonal Jar (Meiping) painted in copper-red underglaze.JPG, Vase with copper-red underglaze,

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

File:Vase_meiping_Musée_Guimet_2418.jpg, 18th-century vase File:MET DP251192.jpg, Porcelain,

Jingdezhen ware Jingdezhen porcelain () is Chinese porcelain produced in or near Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province in southern China. Jingdezhen may have produced pottery as early as the sixth century CE, though it is named after the reign name of Emperor Zhenzon ...

, painted with cobalt blue under transparent glaze, 15th century File:Meiping vase, Chinese, Ming Dynasty, 16th century CE. Arabic inscription. Porcelain with underglaze blue and small touches of overglaze enamel. Burrell Collection, Glasgow, UK.jpg, Meiping vase, Chinese, Ming Dynasty, 16th century CE. Arabic inscription. Porcelain with underglaze blue and small touches of overglaze enamel. Burrell Collection, Glasgow, UK

References

External links

A Handbook of Chinese Ceramics
from The Metropolitan Museum of Art {{Chinese ceramics Pottery shapes Chinese porcelain Chinese pottery Vases