明人瑞應圖
Auspicious Omens
Ming dynasty (1368-1644) 永樂十二年（1414）九月七日，榜葛剌（孟加拉）國王的使者獻了一隻「麒麟」給永樂皇帝。由於麒麟出現是國家昌隆的吉兆，因此不但大臣們紛紛以詩文讚頌，宮廷畫家也繪圖紀念。根據留下的圖像看來，當時所謂的「麒麟」，令人意想不到的是來自東非的長頸鹿。 The emissary of the king of Bengal… 更多 (present-day Bangladesh) offered a qilin as a tribute to the Ming emperor Yongle on the 7th day of the 9th month in the 12th year of his reign (Sept. 20, 1414). The presence of a qilin was considered a celebratory sign of prosperous blessings, which prompted many court officials and artists to compose commemorative works, such as the illustration shown here. Surprisingly enough, the qilin is none other than a giraffe from East Africa. 航向天方─十五世紀的伊斯蘭印象
Sail to the Horizon: Islamic Inspiration in the 15th Century
北部院區 第一展覽區 105陳列室
Northern Branch, Exhibition Area I Gallery 105
https://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh110/Salttothehorizon/index.html
