Meat-Shaped Stone

The Meat-Shaped Stone is a small piece of banded jasper carved and stained to resemble a cube of braised pork belly (dongpo pork). Created during the Qing dynasty around 1700, the sculpture exploits the stone's natural layers to suggest meat, fat, and skin. The surface has been textured and dyed to mimic actual cooking, complete with apparent pores and a glossy "soy-sauce" glaze.

Chinese scholars traditionally appreciated stones for their natural resemblances to other objects, a practice called "found beauty." This piece takes the tradition further by enhancing natural features through carving and staining. Paired with the Jadeite Cabbage at the National Palace Museum, the two pieces represent "a complete meal" and are among the museum's most beloved objects.

The stone is displayed at the National Palace Museum alongside other imperial treasures.