Feb., 1912. Jade. 227 



side is not noted, nor is the strip of clouds between it and the hydra- 

 head. There is also a cloud-pattern in the lower portion, and the 

 phenomenon of rain is doubtless expressed in this design. 



Figure 130 is interpreted as a kiao-ch'ih, i. e. a young dragon whose 

 horns have not yet grown. I am unable to detect any dragon-figure 

 in this design, unless it be on the opposite face which is not represented; 

 but this point is not mentioned in the text. I believe this pattern must 

 be explained as being composed of two axe-shaped implements (of the 

 same type as represented in Figs. 3 and 4 of Plate XXVIII), joined 

 together in the middle, overlaid with and encircled by cloud-ornaments. 

 We remember the so-called cloud-shaped ceremonial dance-axes of 

 the Han (p. 41), and I am inclined to think that a certain share is due 

 to the latter in the 'Conception of this design, which is regarded as pre- 

 Han by the Ku yii Vu p'u. 



Figure 131 is interesting as showing the full figure of a cicada (see 

 Fig. 168 and Plate XXXVI, Figs. 5-9), the back represented on the 

 upper, and the abdomen of the insect on the lower face of the carving. 

 Nothing is said in regard to its symbolism. It is curious that, despite 

 the manifest tendency to carve the little creature as true to nature as 

 possible, 1 bands of meander scrolls are brought out in the design. We 

 shall hear more of cicadas in the course of this investigation. 



The ornament in Fig. 132 carved alike on both faces is again the 

 dragon k'uei lung; "fierce and frightful," is the editorial comment. As 

 indicated by the decorative elements, it is doubtless a cloud and thunder- 

 dragon. Its antique elegance, is the editorial conclusion, stamps it as 

 a relic of the Chou or Ts'in. 2 



Figure 133 represents the double-sided carving of a single fish. "The 

 scales and the bristly dorsal fins {lieh, Giles No. 7107) are life-like, 

 and it is like an object of the Tsin (265-419 a. d.) or T'ang dynasty (618- 

 905 a. d.)," comment the editors. The scales are conceived of as 

 meander fretwork; but I do not know whether, for this reason, this fish 

 is associated with thunder. The peculiar feature is, at all events, its 

 single-blessedness in distinction from the common fish couples. There 

 is a huge fish in the Yellow River, called kuan (Giles No. 6371, Petil- 

 lon, /. c, p. 500) 3 supposed to be a kind of spike, noted for its solitary 

 habits of life, and therefore an emblematic expression for anybody 



1 The Chinese text says that it does not differ from living ones, as they appear 

 on paper mulberry-trees after a growth of three years. 



2 The same design as the engraving on an ink-cake in Fang-shih mo p'u, Ch. 2, 

 P- 3- 



3 The Chinese theory that this species is not able to close its eyes is certainly mere 

 fancy, as in all fishes the accessory organs of the eye like the lids and lachrymal 

 glands are poorly developed. 



