Mr Monkey studied the objects relating to musical and theatrical perfomances in the Play and Performance display cases. He admired the late Ming/early Qing (1620-1722) dynasty flutes made of porcelain or iron, which played like a bamboo flute but looked better, and was surprised by the detail on the Qing, Kangxi period (1700-1722), model theatre. He was very impressed by some shadow puppets which seemed altogether too ornate for something that only appears as a silhouette, and wouldn't photograph well with a monkey. There are 16 boys on the Ming, Jiajing period (1522-1566), blue and white covered jar, which made Mr Monkey wonder why the design is called One Hundred Boys.
Return to Mr Monkey sees China: Journey to the East at the Manchester Museum
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey.