19th century

Snuff Bottle depicting mythical creatures from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (Shanhaijing)

The images shown on this snuff bottle is based on illustrations in the Chinese text Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) that was originally compiled over two thousand years ago. The book contains numerous images of figures based on mythological accounts of the geography and culture of the pre-Qin dynasty (before 221 B.C.). Liu Xin (died A.D. c. 23) edited the version that we know today, which was printed in great numbers during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.