Feb., 1912. 



Jade. 



237 



very clearly in the middle portion, and it seems that a feathered crest 

 surrounds the fish-tail of the monster. On the funeral stone sculpture- 

 work of the Han period we meet with representations of atmospheric 

 phenomena exhibiting clouds conceived of as birds or clouds with bird- 

 heads attached, and celestial spirits connected with figures of birds in 





* 



Pig. 144. 

 Dragon-Shaped Girdle-Pendant of White Jade with Yellow Mist. 



the act of instigating dragons to send rain. The bodies of the two 

 monsters in Figs. 142 and 143 are, further, filled with spirals suggestive 

 to the Chinese mind of clouds, rain and thunderstorm and therefore 

 known under the name of cloud-pattern. We have, accordingly, in 

 these jade plaques an abridged conventionalized representation of what 

 is depicted on a larger scale in a more realistic manner on the Han 

 grave-sculptures, — the motive of the dragon assisted by birds in moving 

 the clouds and sending down beneficial rain (compare above p. 164). 



