As soon as they see the exquisite porridge jar, many people will wonder if this is really used to hold porridgeAccording to"Chinese Porcelain Porridge Jar Collection Treasure Examination".In the preface to the book, Mr. Ma Weidu wrote, "The porridge jar must have a lid to facilitate heat preservation. It appeared in large numbers in the late Ming Dynasty and became the fashion of eating utensils. "So, are the colorful porridge pots decorated with patterns just for storage?Does it have any deeper meaning?
Let's talk about it in this issue
Uses and variations of porridge jars
Ceramic porridge jars appeared relatively early, first appeared in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and were originally used to hold porridge as exquisite utensils. The complete porridge pot is low and round, equipped with a round lid and a metal handle, and is placed in pairs. 
Clear pastel dragon pattern porridge pot
Qingshou peach button dragon and phoenix porridge can.
However, porcelain porridge jars with lids appeared in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and were popular after Jiadao in the Qing Dynasty. Due to the exquisite production and exquisite workmanship, the patterns and ornaments of the porridge jar are rich and elegant, and soon became a furnishing item in the home of the scholar class for ornamentation. Therefore, the porridge jar has become a symbol of identity and status, and has been endowed with more beautiful meanings, which can be called porcelain artworks.
Ming Chongzhen blue and white flowers and birds picture porridge jar
Christie's New York January 21, 2016
"Identification of Ming and Qing Dynasty Porcelain".There has been a special introduction to the porridge jar, see the Kangxi modeling feature strip for details, and the full text is quoted as follows: porridge jar, straight mouth, round shoulder, slightly closed bottom, circle foot. The cover is decorated with a round button, or if it is empty, it can be decorated with a copper ring. There are symmetrical holes in the shoulders of the device, and metal rings can be worn to facilitate the ......The development of the porridge pot type can also be divided into early and late two phases (1) early period: from the end of the Ming Dynasty to Yongqian, the most typical feature is to leave 2 mounting holes on both shoulders;
2) Late stage: from Daoguang to **, it is characterized by no longer leaving holes in the shoulder, but replacing it with 4 noses. 
Ming Chongzhen, Blue and White Character Story Picture Porridge Jar, Christie's New York, March 16, 2015
Ming Chongzhen Blue and White Dragon and Tiger Doutu Porridge Jar Christie's New York March 16, 2015 Shunzhi to the early Kangxi period for the stereotype of porridge jars, the development of porridge jars does not seem to be due to the change of dynasties and the end, after a period of development, the type of porridge jars gradually tends to stabilize. 
Colorful open light West Chamber, picture porridge can.
The height is 22 cm, and the diameter is 176 cm, foot diameter 177 cm.
Collection of the Palace Museum.
Of course, according to logic, it is impossible to have no porridge pots at this stage, but the characteristics are not very obvious, and the number is not much.
Why were Qing Dynasty porcelain porridge jars popular?A large number of porcelain porridge jars were popular in the middle and late Qing Dynasty, is it just as simple as porridge jars?Because the porridge jar takes its homonym"Be an official, a state official"., you know why the porcelain porridge jar is so popular, why the pictures on the porcelain porridge jar are very meaningful, which is inseparable from the ancient imperial examination and the first. And in the pattern of porridge jars in the past dynasties, "Lu" has always occupied an important position. Common patterns are:"Increasing the official and entering the knighthood", "Rising day by day", "champion and first".Wait. 
Add the official to the knight: ** crown with court clothes, the boy or servant presents the knight cup, take the "crown" and "official" homonym.
Pointing to the sun: **Holding a morning wat or word panel, there are children, scholars, coats, **fingering the sun.
Champion and first: A person wearing a crown, riding a dragon or riding a horse across the street, is exactly the high-spirited posture after the high school champion.
Therefore, the porridge pot has developed from an ornamental utility to a "mascot" for the literati, and has become a thing for the literati to have a smooth career and a prosperous official fortune, which has the meaning of persuading people to read, urging people to forge ahead, and prospering the court. There is a saying: "It is good to be an official if you have a porridge pot at home." ”
In the late Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, the porridge jar was rapidly popularized among the people, infiltrated into all levels of society, and became a necessary thing for gifts and marrying wives and daughters, which has gone beyond the meaning of practical utensils.
It wasn't until the ** period that ordinary porridge pots were made that they were really used to hold rice and porridge. At the same time, porridge pots are also used to store daily necessities, such as tea, snacks, sweets, needlework, etc. Therefore, in different regions, porridge jars are also called"Rice bowl", "sugar bowl", "lid jar" or "sugar jar".
Clear melon prismatic crown belt spread porridge jar.
Porcelain porridge jars contain a variety of auspicious meanings
People value the auspicious meaning represented by the porridge jar more than the ornamental value. In addition to the meaning of "being an official" in the porridge jar itself, the pattern design also contains a variety of deep meanings. The ancients believed that the highest state of life is "full of happiness and longevity", so this theme has been used more in the patterns of porridge pots in the past dynasties. Common patterns are:"Fushou Shuangquan", "Fushou Sanmore".Wait.
The porridge jar reflects the good wishes of the ancients to pursue happiness, harmony, auspiciousness and career. Although its actual function is far from the original design, it can still bring beauty to people's lives.
(Note: The above *** is on the Internet, if there is any infringement, please contact to delete).