Magical Numbers

Following this boost in Islamic porcelain export, a new aspect was added to the wares, namely the magic square. These are called huan fang (幻方) in Chinese. Magic squares consist of a layout of numbers in a square, and when each column is summed up, the amount should always be the same. Magic squares have a rich history in China, but also in the Islamic world. In China, these squares were first found in the Da-Dai Liji, also known as the Record of Rites by the Elder Dai, which was written during the first century AD. The mathematical squares were mainly used for divination and astrology. It is believed that the magic squares spread to other countries from China through trade and the sharing of knowledge, as the first mention of magic squares in the Middle East is found around the 8th century AD. In the Islamic world, magic squares too were used for astrology, but also for alchemical works. The use of mathematical squares, however, eventually developed to charms and talismans to help with childbirth. Besides this, the use of magical squares was also said to have healing abilities. This idea that such squares had healing attributes was interesting for porcelain bowls, and therefore the bowls and plates were now adorned with these mathematical equations as well. Yoke, Ho Peng. “Magic Squares in China.” In Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, 2598–2600. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7747-7_9350 | Curtis, Emily B. Chinese-Islamic Works of Art, 1644-1912: A Study of Some Qing Dynasty Examples. London: Routledge, 2022.

The Topkapi bowl also features a magical square. Instead of the typical three by three magic square that is often found in older ritualistic squares, this one is four by four. The numbers inside the square are not written with great care, and it is quite hard to discern which number is which. When I was trying to figure out the numbers in the square, there were several different answers to which numbers were visible. Most people had a hard time translating them, and many said that some numbers were flipped and some scribbles were indiscernible. However, adding up the numbers of each translation (which are almost all completely different) results in entirely different outcomes. For example, the first row adds up to 188, whereas the second row adds up to 199. The rows should have added up to the same amount if it were a real magic square. One of the people who helped with the translation told me that there was a mix of scripts happening here as well. I tried to compare the numeral script visible on the bowl to the Arabic numeral script and indeed saw that some numbers are not in Arabic script, but in a script more similar to Urdu and Shahmukhi. This is quite interesting, especially if we look at the importance of calligraphy in Islamic culture.

In Islamic culture, calligraphy is one of the most accepted and appreciated ways of art. Walls, cloths, tables and thus, ceramics can be seen decorated with many inscriptions, often quoting the Qur’an. Generally, calligraphy is the sole decoration of a piece. Throughout the Qur’an, it is often stated that writing is of high importance, marking the distinction between man and animals. Calligraphy in Islamic culture is to reflect the “transcendence of the Almighty.” In Chinese culture, calligraphy is also held in high esteem. However, while in Islamic culture it is of great importance that the Almighty can be found, in Chinese calligraphy the artist’s personality is often sought out. When admiring Chinese calligraphy, one should visualize the process of creation of the piece. Here, an aesthetic force is more at play than in Islamic calligraphy. With this difference of prominence of calligraphy in these two cultures, we need to take a closer look at the calligraphy at play on the Topkapi bowl. Blair, Sheila S. Islamic Calligraphy. Edinburgh University Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474464475.

If you want to delve deeper into the history of magic squares, see the extension below.