Private collection (sold at Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, 8 November 2012)
This is a flat porcelain plaque painted by Wang Qi in 1931. Wang Qi was the main leader of a group of painters in Jingdezhen called the Eight Friends of Zhushan. The painting shows a smiling monk named Budai sitting at ease. His arm rests on a big sack, and a small bowl sits in front of him. The colors are mostly blue, coral red and brown, and the lines are loose and quick, so the monk looks happy and relaxed. At the top left, the artist wrote a short poem. It says that Budai carries his bag when he walks and when he sits, and that life would feel much freer if he just put it down. I think the idea is that we carry too many worries and should learn to let go. The writing also says the painting follows the style of Huang Shen, an older painter that Wang Qi admired. He had seen Huang Shen's work at an exhibition in Shanghai in 1916. Wang Qi signed the plaque and added two of his seals. He was born in 1884 in Jiangxi and came to Jingdezhen at seventeen to learn painting on porcelain. The plaque is 38.4 cm tall and 25.2 cm wide. In November 2012 a private owner sold it at Bonhams in London for £8,750.
This painting shows a happy and a smiling monk named Budai sitting on the ground next to a big bag. The poem written at the top gives us the main lesson that Budai carries his heavy bag everywhere he goes, but life gets much easier and happier the moment he sets it down. Its a beautiful but true fact about us humans in today's world and this bag represents all the stress, worries, that we carry around in our minds every day. The artwork is a gentle reminder that we can choose to drop our heavy worries and just relax.
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By: Ashwinder Khehra (Ash)
Wang Qi’s porcelain plaque depicting Budai represents the importance of simplicity, contentment, and freedom from worldly worries. Budai, portrayed as a smiling monk with a large sack beside him, appears relaxed and cheerful. His expression conveys inner peace and suggests that true happiness does not necessarily depend on material possessions or social status but rather on one’s attitude towards life. The poem inscribed at the top left provides the key to understanding the artwork. Budai carries his sack wherever he goes, whether walking or sitting, yet the suggestion that he should put it down introduces a deeper philosophical message. The loose brushwork, vibrant colours, and cheerful representation of Budai reinforce the painting’s light-hearted yet meaningful character. Wang Qi’s reference to Huang Shen’s artistic style also reflects the continuity of traditional Chinese painting and its expressive techniques within porcelain art. The artwork encourages self-reflection and emotional freedom. It conveys the timeless message that sometimes, letting go rather than holding on is the key to living a happier, more peaceful, and fulfilling life.
