1-233-965 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Jade rebus of bat and water caltrop, early Qing dynasty, probably Kangxi period, China, 1644-1722. A jade pebble group of a water caltrop with leaves and stem, on top of which is a bat enveloping almost the entire top of the fruit, light brown suffusions. This combination of plant and animal creates a rebus, the meaning of which is 'With prosperity comes intelligent use of opportunities'. The combination of animals or animals with plants to make a rebus was very popular from Song dynasty on.