Chinese Healer

Country: China

Manufactory: Imperial Factory

Date of establishment: 1950s

Size (cm): 28*30

Porcelain Story

The medieval scholar, physician and philosopher Avicenna had a very diligent student. He was so diligent that he followed his teacher's every word and advice without overthinking, trying to repeat almost every gesture.

One day a half-blind boy was brought to the great healer. The teacher listened attentively and examined the visitor and told the student in detail what ingredients should be mixed to make two healing cakes. He did exactly as he was told. The pancakes were applied to the eyes of the sick man and he regained his sight the very next day.

And the apprentice's neighbour was, by golly, a half-blind man. Inspired by the boy's incredible healing success, Avicenna's disciple prepared exactly the same tortillas and placed them on his eyes. The next day, the nearly sightless neighbour lost his sight altogether. Shocked by this unexpected result, the disciple ran to Avicenna in tears:

-- How could it be, Master? I had done exactly as you told me to do the last time! Why had this happened?

In deep sorrow the wise man replied:

-- Every person is different. Blindness comes from different causes: from dryness of the body, from humidity, from heat, from cold, etc. A thousand blind people may have a thousand reasons for their illness... Go home, son. And do something else instead. Try becoming a baker and selling scones. Maybe you'll at least succeed in that...