6th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, Northern Qi, primary source, quotes, stories
Shi Dongtong 石動筩 (Moving Bucket), jester of Bei Qi Gaozu 北齊高祖 (r. 550-59), was exceptionally gifted in verbal wit and could run rings around scholars and clerics. The emperor had people read Xiao Tong’s 蕭統 (501-31) great Anthology of Literature 文選. He sighed...
6th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, Northern Qi, primary source, quotes, stories
There are several stories of Chinese jesters running punning rings around this or that sage scholar or religious master. When Emperor Gaozu of the Northern Qi 北齊高祖 (r. 550-59) held an erudite gathering, his jester Shi Dongtong 石動筩 (Moving Bucket) mocked one of the...
6th century, folk fool, India, primary source, quotes, Sanskrit
A lively line up of skills and attributes reminding me of jesters and in particular vidusaka, the stock comic character of Sanskrit drama, commonly paired up in a close if argumentative relationship between a king and the jester. His appearance in plays and the...
6th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, fooleum, primary source
This endearing character leapt out of his glass case to grab my attention the day we spent 4-5 hours cramming in as much as we could of the Art Institute of Chicago on a perhaps once-in-a-lifetime visit. It was the custom in ancient China to bury clay figurines in...
6th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
A vivid example of a jester’s talking his way out of imminent execution after overstepping the mark. Sometimes, even jesters went too far and got more of a reaction than they bargained for.In this case, Shi Dongtong (Moving Bucket 石動筩), riled the ruler by...
