Noble Peonies in a Vase, Emperor Hsüan-tsung, Ming dynasty, Hanging scroll. The National Palace Museum, Taiwan.

According to the inscription, this work was painted by the Ming emperor Hsüan-tsung as a gift for the high official Yang Shih-ch'i. The cat in the painting curiously looks up at the peonies placed in the suspended bronze vase, as if wanting to jump up and take a closer look. The word for “cat” in Chinese is a homonym for “octogenarian” and has served as an auspicious symbol for long life, while the peony is regarded as the “king of flowers”, suggesting nobility and wealth. Here, the cat was painted with fine brushwork and utmost detail. In the suspended bronze flower vase are three blossoms, in which the layers of green leaves cover the handles of the bronze vase, making for a scene of great grace and beauty.