Stylistic Feature and Formative Cause of the Scrolling Lotus Pattern on Copper-bodied Cloisonné Enamel of the Early Ming Dynasty

As a ubiquitous motif in traditional Chinese decorative art, the scrolling lotus pattern occupies a dominant position in the ornamentation of early Ming copper-bodied cloisonné enamel ware. To explore the reasons behind this phenomenon, this study examines 25 early Ming cloisonné enamel pieces with scrolling lotus patterns from the Compendium of Collections in the Palace Museum (Enamel ware Volume) catalog. By combining iconography, typology, and textual analysis, the study traces the formation and evolution of the scrolling lotus motif and, based on petal layers, classifies its manifestations on enamel objects into two main types: single-layer symmetrical lotus petals and double-layer symmetrical lotus petals. Analysis reveals that despite numerous variations, these forms can all be reduced to a few repetitive, symmetrical standardized units, exhibiting highly generalized and stylized characteristics.The formation of this characteristic is not only a result of technical constraints and imperal court regulations but also a material manifestation of official political ideology and aesthetic dominance during the early Ming Dynasty.