Imre Jakabffy (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 6. (Budapest, 1979)

KÁRPÁTI, Andrea: „Blanc de Chine" porcelain in the collection of the Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Arts

9. PU-T'AI HO-SHANG 10. PU-T'AI HO-SHANG The Ferenc Hopp Museum owns two figures of Pu-tai Ho-shang. The name of the vigorous god means „The monk with the hemp sack"). (Figs. 9—10) He lived around 900 A. D., and was famous for his love for children and his fatness. He was canonised only in the 14th century, the last of the sixteen Chinese boddhisatvas. According to Bushell, his statuette can be found in every Chinese shrine, he is so popular. One of our pieces (Inv.-Nr: 68.43, fig. 9) represents the most frequent type, a seated, half-naked, laughing figure with a huge stomach. With his right hand he gathers up his dress, and he has a rosary in his left. (This is the so-called „little rosary", which consists of 18 grains, symbols of the 18 Lohans or Arhats, „Defeaters of the enemy".) The figure is composed of rounded shapes, wich provides an opportunity for a sculpturesome portrayal. The glaze is milky white. The statuette can be dated between 1775 and 1825 or later. The other Pu-tai figure (Inv.-Nr: 59.216) depicts the god on a rock throne (fig. 10). The smiling Pu-tai holds money and a rosary in his right hand, and a bag in his left. The bag has broken off. 103