Three plates depicting women and children, anonymous, c. 1725 - c. 1735
turning, h 3.8cm × d 20.1cm More details
These three plates feature mothers interacting with their children. A mother had an important task, namely to ensure that her sons would pass the civil service examination. Ever since this exam had been introduced by Empress Wu Zetian (624-705), attaining an official position was no longer the sole preserve of the elite. From then on, literate women were considered less of a threat and more as capable mothers devoted to their sons.
