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Meat-shaped Stone

Meat-shaped Stone is a piece of jasper carved in the shape of Dongpo pork. It is part of the collection of the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan. Although it is of only moderate importance from an art-historical point of view, it is a popular object much appreciated by visitors and has become famous. The work is named one of the museum’s most celebrated masterpieces and is considered one of its Three Treasures, alongside the Jade Cabbage and another object not named in the source text. The public has also chosen it as the most important item in the museum’s collections.

Meat-Shaped Stone displayed in a glass case with layered reddish-brown, pale, and dark stone bands.
The Meat-Shaped Stone on display in a glass case, showing its layered stone colors.
April 2025 © · CC BY 4.0
Meat-Shaped Stone displayed on an ornate golden stand
The Meat-Shaped Stone at the Taipei National Palace Museum, shown on an ornate two-tiered golden stand.
April 2025 © · CC BY 4.0
Meat-Shaped Stone carved like a piece of pork belly on an ornate gold stand.
The Meat-Shaped Stone, a famous carving resembling braised pork belly, displayed on an ornate gold-colored stand.
April 2025 © · CC BY 4.0
Meat-shaped Stone displayed on an ornate golden stand, resembling a piece of cooked pork belly with a reddish-brown top and mottled grey-brown body.
The Meat-shaped Stone displayed on an ornate golden stand in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
November 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Meat-Shaped Stone displayed on a pedestal inside a glass case with museum visitors nearby.
The Meat-Shaped Stone displayed in a glass case at the Taipei National Palace Museum.
April 2025 © · CC BY 4.0

Identification

TitleMeat-Shaped Stone
Original nameRouxingshi
Typesculpture
Original titleFleischstein

Historical context

DynastyQing dynasty
Date19th century
Provenanceplaced in the National Palace Museum collection after the retreat of the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan

Creator

ArtistUnknown

Materials

Materialbanded jasper
Material structurelayers of various shades naturally formed over time

Technique

Techniquecarved
Use of natural colorthe artisan exploited the stone's natural colors to imitate meat
Surface treatmentdyed

Physical characteristics

Dimensions5.73 cm long, 6.6 cm wide, 5.3 cm deep

Appearance

Surface appearancenaturally accumulated layers show various shades of color
Depicted subjecta piece of Dongpo pork (Chinese-style pork belly)
Surface appearancegiven the appearance of pork rind or skin
Visual resemblanceclosely resembles layers of fat and meat
Formshaped like Dongpo pork

Location and ownership

CollectionNational Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
LocationTaipei, Taiwan

Significance

Art historical significancemoderate from the point of view of art history
Public popularityvery popular with visitors
Famebecame famous
Museum statusdescribed as the most famous masterpiece in the National Palace Museum collection
Recognitionone of the Three Treasures of the National Palace Museum, along with the Jadeite Cabbage and the Mao Gong Ding
Public votechosen by the public as the most important item among the museum's collections
Descriptiona valuable object in the collection of the National Palace Museum