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The Tale of the Curly-Bearded Fellow (Qiu Ran Ke Zhuan 虬髯客传) by Tang dynasty writer Du Guangting 杜光庭 recounts a vivid episode from the youth of Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin 李世民 (598–649). Set during the final years of the Sui dynasty—when warlords rose across a fractured empire—the story reflects the people’s longing for a leader who could restore peace and unify the realm.
Amidst this turmoil, a bold, rugged figure known as the Curly-Bearded Fellow (虬髯客) befriends Li Jing 李靖 and his wife, both of whom would later help establish the Tang dynasty. Upon hearing of the exceptional talent and charisma of Li Shimin, the Curly-Bearded Fellow expresses admiration and asks for an introduction. At the time, Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing, the magistrate of Jinyang, were secretly planning to overthrow the Sui regime. To avoid arousing suspicion, they often met under the pretext of playing weiqi (Chinese chess) at Liu’s residence.
Facilitated by Li Jing, Li Shimin meets the Curly-Bearded Fellow, and the two engage in a chess match charged with symbolic meaning. The guest boldly places four stones at the corners of the board and declares, ‘I claim all four directions!’—a metaphor for seizing control of the empire. Li Shimin, composed and strategic, places a single stone at the centre, calmly stating, ‘With one move, I secure the empire.’ His approach quickly dominates the board, prompting the Curly-Bearded Fellow to concede, recognising Li Shimin’s superiority and surrendering his own ambitions for the throne.
This scene—where a game of weiqi becomes a metaphor for political fate—was later adapted in the Ming dynasty by playwright Zhang Fengyi 张凤翼 into the historical drama The Story of the Girl Holding a Red Fly Whisk (Hongfu Ji 红拂记), which also drew on Poems of Origin (Benshi Shi 本事诗) by Meng Qi 孟棨.
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Acknowledgement: The story scene depicted on the porcelain ware displayed in this listing was first deciphered by Dr <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/dr-yibin-ni/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yibin Ni</a>.
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Other stories scenes from The Story of the Girl Holding a Red Fly Whisk:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/when-red-fly-whisk-fell-head-over-heels-for-the-scholar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When Red Fly Whisk Fell Head over Heels for the Scholar</a> 张娘心许
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/curly-bearded-fellow-going-overseas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Curly-bearded Fellow Going Overseas</a> 虬髯客掷家图国

A single chess play that claims victory

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Legend of the Epiphyllum (Tanhua Ji 昙花记) is a late Ming dynasty drama written by the accomplished scholar Tu Long (屠隆, 1542–1605), composed during the Wanli reign. Renowned for his achievements in literature, art, and Buddhist philosophy, Tu Long described this legendary play as a work intended ‘to expound the laws of karmic retribution and express Buddhist truths’.
The protagonist is the fictional Tang dynasty general Mu Qingtai 木清泰, whose journey from worldly glory to spiritual cultivation and ultimate enlightenment forms the core of the narrative. The title, Legend of the Epiphyllum, symbolises the transient nature of wealth and fame, echoing the Buddhist notion of impermanence and the teaching that ‘form is emptiness’.
The most celebrated scene, Enlightenment during a Spring Outing, depicts Mu Qingtai enjoying a joyful spring excursion, accompanied by his wife, concubines, attendants, music, and wine. Along the way, his procession is halted by two eccentric figures: the drunken monk Pindola 宾头卢 and the mad Daoist Shan Xuanqing 山玄卿. These two, emissaries of the Buddha and the Daoist Patriarch respectively, challenge Mu with poetic exhortations, urging him to awaken from his worldly delusions. Initially proud of his military success and noble rank, Mu is struck by Pindola’s reminder: ‘Though clad in a purple robe, your hair still turns white.’
This moment of realisation prompts Mu to renounce his official post and family ties, setting out on a path of spiritual cultivation. Before departing, he plants a rootless epiphyllum flower in his courtyard. Over a decade later, the flower blooms, heralding his family’s collective enlightenment and their ascension to the Pure Land.
This richly symbolic and visually dynamic scene, drawn from Act Five of the play, became a popular motif in porcelain decoration during the late Ming and early Qing periods.
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story scene description by <a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/about-us/rachel-ma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Ma</a>
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Similar Figural Story Scenes for Differentiation:
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/bo-yi-and-shu-qi-trying-to-stop-the-mighty-zhou-army" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bo Yi and Shu Qi Trying to Stop the Mighty Zhou Army</a> 伯夷、叔齐叩马谏周王
<a href="https://tutuhaoyi.com/figures-stories/lady-wang-zhaojun-going-out-of-the-frontier-pass" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lady Wang Zhaojun Going out of the Frontier Pass</a> 昭君出塞

Enlightenment during a Spring Outing

whisk

chrysanthemum Qianlong porcelain bowl Tutuhaoyi

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Amitabha Pure Land Buddhism three Saints from West

Pictorial Presentation of Amitabha and the Two Assistant Bodhisattva

Hongwu porcelain ewer underglaze red Tutuhaoyi

Hongwu Porcelain – The Treasure in Ming Dynasty Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang

Guo Ziyi deterring enemy army without fighting Tutuhaoyi

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