This hand-knotted wool antique Chinese Baotou rug features a variety of scholarly objects arranged in a still life design. The objects on display are firmly rooted in the philosophies of Confucianism, which prizes scholarship and self-cultivation as a means of attaining harmony on earth and an idyllic society. The four main symbols of Confucianism are the harp, chessboard, books, and scrolls, all of which are featured prominently in this piece.