During the 18th century, the term ‘wucai’ (literally ‘five colours’) was used in place of doucai (literally, ‘fitted colours’). This doucai bowl has a six-character mark of Yongzheng and is of the period. It is painted in the doucai style, a combination of underglaze blue and overglaze enamels that depicts the Three Star Gods – the God of Fortune (Fuxing), the God of Success (Luxing) and the God of Longevity (Shouxing), amidst a landscape of pine trees, fungus (lingzhi), bamboo, rocks and swirling clouds. The interior has a roundel containing a deer, a crane and a fungus. In Chinese mythology, the deer is known for its ability to find the lingzhi. The images in the interior also symbolise longevity.
