Dish depicting a scene from the Romance of the Jade Box
Tang Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712-756) and his preferred concubine Lady Yang (719-756) here are enjoying a boat trip on the lake. For the favourites, life in the often harsh world of the imperial harem was like balancing on a tightrope. While they enjoyed certain liberties and exerted some influence, the envy of the official wife, the other concubines and powerful men posed a constant threat.