Introduction of Glazes into China 145 



K'ang of the third century, commenting on the Han Annals, 1 remarks 

 that p'i-liu-li is green in color, like jade. Yen Shi-ku (579-645), 

 however, rejects this generalization, observing that Mong K'ang's 

 definition is too narrow; that the substance is a natural object, varie- 

 gated, glossy, and brilliant; that it exceeds any hard stones (3E); and 

 that its color is unchangeable. "It is the present practice," he con- 

 tinues, "to prepare it by the use of molten stones, with the addition 

 of certain chemicals to the flux. This mass, however, is hollow, brittle, 

 and not evenly compact; it is not the genuine article." 2 This is appar- 

 ently an allusion to glass. The notion that pH-liu-li was regarded as a 

 product of natural origin was suggested by the meaning "quartz," which 

 originally adhered to the Sanskrit term vaidurya, the prototype of the 

 word p'i-liu-li; but this does not mean that vitreous bodies were taken 

 by the ancient Chinese for precious stones, as has been intimated by 

 some authors. The confusion is one of terminology rather than of reali- 

 ties. The parallel with the conception of murra as a stone is obvious. 



In the Nan chou i wu chi Hi 'M ^ $0 M, by Wan Chen II of 

 the third century, we read as follows: 3 "The principal material under- 

 lying liu-li is stone. In order to make vessels from it, it must be 

 worked by means of carbonate of soda. 4 The latter has the appear- 

 ance of yellow ashes, which are found on the shores of the southern 

 sea, and are suitable also for the washing of clothes. When applied, 

 it does not require straining; but it is thrown into water, and becomes 

 slippery like moss-covered stones. Without these ashes, the material 

 cannot be dissolved." This is probably a recipe for making a glaze. 

 Compare the Chinese notions on using ashes for porcelain glazes and 

 obtaining such ashes. 6 



At the Court of the Mongol lynasty, four kilns were established in 

 1276 at Ta-tu for the manufacture of plain, white-glazed bricks and 

 tiles (^ fi §ft £ftj |i$ J€) , with an army of three hundred workmen. The 

 so-called Southern Kiln (nan yao M H») was erected in 1263, the West- 

 ern Kiln (si yao M %) in 1267, and that of Liu-li kii $ft *W M (north- 

 west of Peking) in 1263. 6 The latter was still operated under the 



1 Ts'ien Han shu, Ch. 96 A, p. 5. 



2 Hobson (Chinese Pottery and Porcelain, p. 144) gives only an abridged quo- 

 tation of Yen Shi-ku's text, as quoted in the T'ao shuo, which does not bring out 

 the author's true meaning. The main point is that Yen Shi-ku regarded p'i-liu-li 

 as a natural substance, and looked upon the artifacts of his time as poor substitutes. 



• T'ai p'ing yii Ian, Ch. 808, p. 5. 



4 Tse jan hui § ffe $£, literally "natural ashes;" used also with reference 

 to a kind of earth and feldspath (Geerts, Produits, pp. 404, 416). 

 6 Julien, Histoire et fabrication de la porcelaine chinoise, p. 131. 



• Yuan shi, Ch. 90, p. 5. 



