Jan., 1914. Annual Report of the Director. 301 



prominent types of porcelain, three others containing faience, and three 

 funeral images to which a marble sarcophagus and a glazed pottery- 

 coffin are joined. The other cases embrace miscellaneous material 

 temporarily arranged; viz., coins, seals, and medals, Chinese and Tibetan 

 silver jewelry, ancient bone carvings, and Buddhist votive offerings of 

 clay. The object of the exhibits in the adjoining Hall 46 and 47 is to 

 illustrate the religions of China — Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and 

 Islamism. Sixteen cases are now on view. Confucianism is illustrated 

 by the most important portraits of Confucius and scenes in his life and 

 career in examples chosen from the work of the best Chinese artists. 

 The other religions are presented by a large number of paintings, rub- 

 bings, and statues of bronze, iron, and pottery. The principle of arrange- 

 ment is simultaneously chronological and according to subject-matter. 

 The important event of the year in matters of installation proved to be 

 the placing on exhibition of the Chinese and Tibetan masks, and in 

 view of complexity of the technical problem involved, due credit should 

 be given to the Department's efficient preparators who with untiring 

 zeal and resourcefulness have made this exhibit a success. In principle 

 this group of exhibits essentially differs from the other Chinese exhibits. 

 The latter are analytic in depicting certain periods and facts; the former 

 are synthetic, presenting in their totality an essential and vital organ 

 of Eastern life, and spontaneously convey a feeling of reality. Three 

 Chinese maps, one of the year 1136 and two printed in 146 1 with the 

 imperial preface, have been hung in Hall 44. Six clearly engraved maps 

 of China, due to the courtesy of the National Geographic Society of 

 Washington, have been distributed over the various halls. The appear- 

 ance of Hall 44 described in the last report has been improved in 

 various ways: by the addition of labels, the reinstallation of the case 

 containing ancient specimens of body armor increased by an important 

 specimen obtained by purchase, and above all by the installation in wall 

 cases of the two large painted scrolls presented by the Tuesday Art and 

 Travel Club and appreciated in the last report. The silk tapestry 

 acquired last year and a wood-cut reproduction of a celebrated landscape 

 by the eminent Japanese painter Sesshu (obtained by Dr. Laufer in 

 Tokyo) have been added to this wall, which now presents a unique 

 spectacle of beauty of line and color. In this manner, not only is the 

 best possible advantage taken of the wall space, but also the most 

 efficient and impressive background is secured for the case exhibits. 

 It was thought, for instance, very appropriate to include here Sesshu's 

 famed scroll, inasmuch as it is Chinese scenery sketched by the artist 

 during his sojourn in China, and the tribute paid by him in such masterly 

 form to the beauty of Chinese landscape is a worthy monument to adorn 



