290 Field Museum of Natural History — Anth., Vol. X. 



origin occurring in the same form and under the same name (pao siang 

 hua, "rose-flower") on the contemporaneous metal mirrors of the T'ang 

 period, of which there are many excellent specimens in our collection. 



Fig. 193. 

 Jade Court-Girdle of the Empress of the T'ang Dynasty, with Persian Floral Designs 

 , (from Ku yii t'u p'u). 



We shall see presently through what channel this elegant plant pattern 

 arrived in China. The Ku yii t'u p'u notices the delicate composition 

 of the design and calls it an unusually precious girdle. It does not say 

 to what class of wearers it belongs, but I venture to make a guess at a 

 palace lady, — for two reasons, first of all because of the dainty femi- 

 nine character of the design, and secondly because the color of the jade 



