The ''Meat-Shaped Stone'' () is a piece of
jasper
Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. The common red color is due to ...
carved into the shape of a piece of
Dongpo pork
Dongpo pork (), also known as Dongpo meat, is a Hangzhou dish made by pan-frying and then red-cooking pork belly. The pork is typically cut into thick, approximately 5 centimeter (2.0 inch) squares, with an even distribution of fat and lean meat ...
, a popular Chinese way of cooking
pork belly
Pork belly or belly pork is a boneless, fatty Primal cut, cut of pork from the Abdomen, belly of a pig. Pork belly is particularly popular in American cuisine, American, British cuisine, British, Swedish cuisine, Swedish, Danish cuisine, Danish, ...
. After the
retreat of the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan
Following their defeat in the Chinese Civil War, the remnants of the Nationalist government of the Republic of China (ROC), alongside many refugees, retreated to the island of Taiwan (Formosa) beginning on December 7, 1949. The exodus is so ...
, it is part of the collection of the
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, also known as Taipei Palace Museum, is a national museum headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum was re-established in Shilin District, Shilin, Taipei, in 1965, later expanded with a S ...
in
Taipei
, nickname = The City of Azaleas
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country ...
,
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
. Although of only moderate importance from the point of view of
art history
Art history is the study of Work of art, artistic works made throughout human history. Among other topics, it studies art’s formal qualities, its impact on societies and cultures, and how artistic styles have changed throughout history.
Tradit ...
, it is a great popular favourite with visitors and has become famous.
The ''Meat-Shaped Stone'' has been called the "most famous masterpiece" of the entire National Palace Museum,
and along with the
Jadeite Cabbage
The ''Jadeite Cabbage'' () or ''Jadeite Cabbage with Insects'' is a piece of jadeite carved into the shape of a napa cabbage head, and with a locust and katydid camouflaged in the leaves. It is part of the collection of the National Palace Museum ...
and the
Mao Gong Ding, is today called one of the Three Treasures of the National Palace Museum, a redesignation from several less accessible, infrequently-displayed works.
It has also been chosen by the public as the most important item in the museum's entire collection.
[Sam Ju]
"The Crystallization of the Jadeite Cabbage."
Translated by David Smith. ''Taiwan Panorama
''Taiwan Panorama'' () is a multilingual monthly magazine published in Taiwan. It was founded as ''Sinorama Magazine'' () in 1976 and renamed in 2006. The magazine is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Taiwanese culture.
Hist ...
''. October 2009. p. 83. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
History
The stone was carved during the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
from banded
jasper
Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color; and rarely blue. The common red color is due to ...
. The layers of the stone accumulated naturally over the years, exhibiting various shades of hues.
The craftsman who carved the stone skilfully stained the surface, resulting in a realistic-looking piece that resembles layers of fat and meat.
Gallery
File:Meat-Shaped Stone Gathering of Treasures 2.jpg
File:Meat-Shaped Stone Gathering of Treasures 3.jpg
File:Meat-Shaped Stone Gathering of Treasures 4.jpg
File:Meat-Shaped Stone NPM 2.tiff
File:Meat-Shaped Stone NPM 3.tiff
File:BCfood12.JPG, Dongpo pork
Dongpo pork (), also known as Dongpo meat, is a Hangzhou dish made by pan-frying and then red-cooking pork belly. The pork is typically cut into thick, approximately 5 centimeter (2.0 inch) squares, with an even distribution of fat and lean meat ...
, the basis for the Meat-Shaped Stone
File:Braised pork stone, Taipei National Palace Museum (2025) - img 03.jpg, Visitors admiring the piece in the National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum, also known as Taipei Palace Museum, is a national museum headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the museum was re-established in Shilin District, Shilin, Taipei, in 1965, later expanded with a S ...
in Taipei
, nickname = The City of Azaleas
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country ...
, 2025
See also
*
List of individual gemstones
A number of individual gemstones are famous in their own right, either because of their size and beauty or because of the people who owned or wore them.
Aquamarines
* Dom Pedro, the world's largest cut and polished aquamarine. It is currently h ...
*''
Jadeite Cabbage
The ''Jadeite Cabbage'' () or ''Jadeite Cabbage with Insects'' is a piece of jadeite carved into the shape of a napa cabbage head, and with a locust and katydid camouflaged in the leaves. It is part of the collection of the National Palace Museum ...
''
References
Chinese sculpture
National Palace Museum
Qing dynasty art
Food and drink sculptures
{{Sculpture-stub