The tortoise is a sacred figure which has been documented in “Litong”: “The arc above like the heavens, the square below is like the earth. There are plates on the back like the mountains, interwoven black markings form the 28 lunar mansions.” The tortoise could be said to comprise the heaven, earth, stars, and human culture. It stands with the dragon, phoenix, and kirin as one the four sacred animals of China, and the only one among the sacred animals that exist in the real world.
Since ancient times, tortoises have been associated with longevity and regarded as having a wealth of knowledge and experience, with the spiritual power of predicting the future. They are beloved and play an important role in health, divination, legends and mythology. Tortoises are protected by a beautiful hard shell that provide an enviable mystical defense. Tortoises may move slowly and clumsily, but have great tenacity. The tortoise won in the race against the hare, and is an embodiment of where there is a will there is a way.
The tortoise is an adorable animal and the protagonist in cartoons and a species in the ecosystem. However, some species are on the brink of extinction due to improper development and misuse of resources, overfishing and trafficking.
The current exhibition at the Songshan Feng Tian Temple draws from chairman Chen Bozhen’s tortoise themed craft items collected over the course of two decades from across the world. The variety of objects tell of legends and myths related to tortoises, conveying the affection that people have for the tortoise. At the same time, we hope the exhibition will conjure everyone’s concern for the tortoise’s habitat and cherish natural resources. In today’s digital world, we can experience and learn about the tortoise in cultural stories and legends through digital multimedia and interactive installations.
Let us travel through celestial bodies and explore the constellations with Alu, a good friend of the sacred tortoise; and seek out the holy turtle of legends by diving to the underwater dragon palace and exploring the precious treasures of the underwater world.
Organizer: Songshan Feng Tian Temple
Supporting Organization: Taipei City Xinyi District Office
Venue: Heavenly Lord Gallery, Level B2 Xiangke Building
Brochure: 下載
Exhibition Content:
Overview of the Items on Exhibit
The collection exists because of enjoyment, and is shared in hopes that more people can enjoy it.
The majority of items exhibited here are on loan from chairman Chen Bozhen, and curated from among 2000 collected items.
Chairman Chen is very fond of turtles. In addition to breeding turtles, he is also drawn to all types of turtle themed crafts. Over the course of two decades, as his industry expanded globally, his collection has also been culled from all over the world.
Besides Taiwan, items in the collection come from the U.S., South Africa, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China, each representing a story of adventure: some are gifts from friends, some from family, each tells a precious story of warmth. Some are valuable collectibles, while others may be of little commercial value, but all are adorable and beloved regardless of their origin. Chairman Chen says that each collectable is like a child to him and he loves them each equally.
The objects are made of a variety of materials. Carved of wood, stone, or jade; some of made of metal, ceramics, or clay. There are a variety of dragon turtles, such as the Dragon Turtle of the Treasured Pagoda, the Dragon Turtle of the Gold Ingot, and a lidded dragon turtle, etc., each with a different auspicious effect, as well as conveying a happy marriage, plenty of offspring, extending life, metaphors for joy and harmony, and legendary tales. Each object is finely made and interesting.
Scroll of a Hundred Characters for Tortoise
Duan Yucai of the Qing dynasty wrote: “Tortoises are venerable and represent longevity. Liu Xiang of the Western Han dynasty wrote “Tortoises are perpetual, they become sacred at a thousand years. Their longevity allows them to discern between the auspicious and the ominous.” Since ancient times, tortoises have represented blessings, prosperity, and longevity.
Scrolls with a hundred characters for longevity, blessings, and prosperity are often presented as gifts at celebrations. Mr. Du Wuxiong, whose calligraphy is notable for its vigor and warmth, has devoted much time and effort into researching various forms and the evolution of the character for tortoise to create a “Scroll of a Hundred Characters for Tortoise” especially for this exhibition, with an inscription congratulating the success of the Sacred Tortoise Tour at Songshan Feng Tian Temple exhibition.
Introduction to Painting Turtles
The tortoise themed works in this area were joyously created by students from the ink painting class at Songshan Feng Tian Temple using ink wash as media. Each is an expression of individual creativity. Guided by instructor Ten Mei-Chiu, this group of students have been immersed for many years in the world of ink painting, with a skillful grasp of painting. Their work have been selected for the Tailian Exhibition dozens of times, and have been invited to exhibit in Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Qian'an, Zhangjiakou, Tianjin and other cities in mainland China, to great acclaim. The over 50 paintings exhibited are each the finest work of the students, expressing folktales and lifelike poses of the tortoise in interesting and vivid ways, conveying the lovable tortoise in all its vivacity.