Known for exquisite porcelain production and expansive trade, the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) represents a period of Chinese imperial rule between the fall of the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and the rise of the Manchu Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The approximately 20 works selected for this exhibition demonstrate how early Ming ceramics inherited the rich and culturally diverse legacy of the Mongol rulers by adopting foreign influences from a vibrant trade with the Islamic and Central Asian worlds and combining them with indigenous Chinese traditions. 

Dish. Ming period, mid- to late-15th century (probably Chenghua era 1465 - 1487). China, Jiangxi Province. Porcelain with copper-red glaze (Jingdezhen ware). H. 1 3/8 x Diam. 6 1/2 in. (3.5 x 16.5 cm). Asia Society, New York: Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art 1979.177