As You Wish

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

As You Wish
As You Wish
Kris Ercums, curator
Gallery 409, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

This curved ceremonial scepter—known as ruyi, or “as you wish,” in Chinese—is an invitation to open and explore the eight pull-out drawers in the Lee Study Center. Inside fanciful immortals, mythic creatures, and vibrant colors await. Curate your own experience through the diverse contents in each drawer.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Kajikawa Family (active 1700s), sakazuki (sake drinking cup)
sakazuki (sake drinking cup)
Kajikawa Family
1700s, Edo period (1600–1868)
lacquer dish
lacquer dish
date unknown
lacquer dish
lacquer dish
date unknown
covered box with dragon
covered box with dragon
early 1570s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Jingasa (ceremonial military hat)
Jingasa (ceremonial military hat)
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
陣笠 jingasa (camp hat)
陣笠 jingasa (camp hat)
late 1800s, Meiji period (1868–1912)
bowl
bowl
1100s
bowl
bowl
1200s
bowl
bowl
1200s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
plate
plate
Yüan dynasty (1279–1368)
dish
dish
1400s, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
dish
dish
Yongzheng period (1723–1735), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
dish
dish
Yongzheng period (1723–1735), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
bowl
bowl
Guangxu period (1874–1908), Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
mirror depicting Emperor Xuanzong’s Journey to the Moon
mirror depicting Emperor Xuanzong’s Journey to the Moon
1000s, Goryeo dynasty (918–1392)
Yoshitsuga Fujiwara, bronze mirror
bronze mirror
Yoshitsuga Fujiwara
early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Dading Tongbao coin mirror
Dading Tongbao coin mirror
1178–1234, Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
lacquer case for bronze mirror
lacquer case for bronze mirror
early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
ruyi sceptre
ruyi sceptre
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
ruyi sceptre
ruyi sceptre
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
如意 ruyi scepter
如意 ruyi scepter
1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)