Mono Monday: China

Detail from a willow pattern china jar.

The calligraphy in the background is on a tie I bought a long time ago in the Ladies' Market in Hong Kong. A couple of years later, I wore it at a meeting with a colleague who is Taiwanese, and realised I had the opportunity to get it translated. She took a look at it, and told me it was a script that started "Even the Emperor should not be without humility...". However, it took her a little while to come up with that, and from the way she said it, I am pretty sure she was making it up. So my assumption has always been that the tie actually says (in a rather ornate and verbose way) something like "Kick me." ! :)

Today's challenge is hosted by JoanneInOz. You can view all entries here.