Pun Design: nine + quail

Punning Details：

The Chinese word ‘jiu 九’ for ‘nine’ puns on the word ‘jiu 久’ for ‘lasting’. The word ‘an 鹌’ in ‘an chun 鹌鹑’ for ‘quail’ makes a pun on ‘an 安’ for ‘peace’. Thus, the image of nine quails can be used to cue the auspicious message of ‘May peace bless you forever’.

Related Pun Picture:

May the country enjoy peace and good order permanently 长治久安

May you live in peace and leisure 安居

• Fig 1: falangcai enamelled porcelain vase, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 2: falangcai enamelled porcelain bowl, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 3: porcelain vase, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Guimet Museum, Paris

  Fig 4-5: falangcai enamelled porcelain vase, Qianlong period (1736–95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Shanghai Museum, China

  Fig 6-7: Everlasting Contentment 久安图, ink and colour on paper, Xu Yang (徐扬, ca. 1751–1776), 1773, courtesy of Yale University Art Gallery

  Fig 8-9: Jiu An Da Ji Tu 久安大吉图, ink and colour on paper, Lu Zhi (sic) (陆治, 1496–1576), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei