Raft with Immortals

The motif of immortals riding on raft boats was popular during the Ming dynasty. This motif was reproduced jade, silver, and rhinoceros horn.

This raft takes the form of a pine tree, with branches and leaves forming a canopy over the two immortals. The depiction of the pine needles shows an affinity with bamboo root and rhinoceros carvings. During the Qing dynasty, craftworkers imitated each other's work, and it is not surprising to find a jade sculpture in the style of a horn carving.

The boat is propelled by two immortals—one steering, the other rowing with oars in the shape of a fungus of immortality. A crane, seated next to the immortals, carries a branch of lingzhi fungus in its beak. At the end of the raft are two kneeling deer; the one in front carries a sprig of lingzhi fungus.

The deer (lu) and crane (he) and the pine tree (a longevity symbol) make up a rebus for the auspicious term liuhe tongchun, or "the universe enjoying eternal spring." The deer and crane are homonyms for liuhe, or "six together," meaning the four directions, heaven, and earth—in other words, the universe.