Box for Storing Monk's Robes

This precious lacquer box is decorated with bird and plant motifs and figures in mother-of-pearl inlay. The decoration does not relate to Buddhism, but depicts the leisurely pursuit of scholars in nature and a garden setting. Scholars play the board game weiqi, have philosophical conversations, pluck a qin (a zither-like instrument with strings), and read books. Lacquer chests of this type stored garments and this particular one may have been presented to a priest, abbot, or monk of a monastery by a wealthy patron. This explains the secular subject matter and luxurious decoration. The mother-of-pearl inlay technique was typically practiced in Hangzhou city and other parts of southeast China.