A ‌blue and white porcelain bowl with dragons amidst flowers‌ pattern and Phagspa script (Why?) base inscription, Ming dynasty, Zhengde mark and period, (1506-1521). Height: 10.3 cm, Mouth Diameter: 23 cm, Foot Diameter: 9.3 cm. Collection: the Palace Museum.

The bowl has a flared mouth, deep rounded sides, and a slightly raised ring foot. Both the interior and exterior are decorated in underglaze blue. The central medallion inside and the exterior walls are painted with dragons winding amidst scrolling floral motifs. The outer face of the ring foot bears a band of Ruyi cloud-head motifs.

Why Phagspa script appeared on Ming porcelain?

The base features an underglaze-blue double-circle mark enclosing a four-character Phagspa script inscription in two columns, translated as "Made in the Zhengde reign." (正德年制)

‌The Phagspa script was a writing system commissioned by the Mongols after the establishment of the Yuan dynasty. 

During the Ming, Zhengde reign, due to the Emperors' close ties with the upper echelons of Mongol and Tibetan Buddhist clergy, the bases of some Zhengde imperial kiln blue and white porcelain pieces also began to bear reign marks written in Phagspa script. This added a unique layer of cultural significance to Ming dynasty porcelain.

These enigmatic script decorations not only imbue the porcelain with unique artistic allure but also bear the cultural legacies of different historical periods, reflecting the beliefs and values of their respective eras.‌

‌Moreover, they represent the cultural permeation and mutual influence between distinct civilizations, providing us with invaluable tangible artifacts that offer profound insights into the multifaceted Chinese civilization embodied wit

hin the porcelain.