810 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



and six the hexagrams (tig. 4). These tablets, livai, are figured in the 

 imperial edition of the Chow Li, or '^Ritual of the Chow Dynasty" 

 (1122-255 B. C), the .pictures dating from the time of Chu Hi,^ by 

 whom they were added to the text in the Twelfth Century, A. D. 

 Among them is the ihi livai (tig. 125 A), the stm kwai (fig. 125 B), and 

 the l-ung Icicai (fig. 125 C). 



The first, the "pillar scepter" or tablet, was j^,, foot in length and 

 carried by princes of the first rank (dukes). They were the grand 





JL 



B 



Fig. 125. 



SCEPTERS (kicai) ANCIENTLr CARRIED BY CHINESE NOBLES. 

 From the Chow Li. 



councilors of the Emperor and the descendants of the first two emperors. 

 The two pillars or columns were the emblems of the palace, supporting 

 it in the same manner as the princes support the Emperor. Perhaps 

 the name, nn l-icai, indicates that these tablets had two columns.' The 

 second, the "straight scepter," was iV foot in length and carried by 

 princes of the second rank (marquises). It probably represents the 



' Chinese Reader's Manual, No. 79. 

 -Le Tcheou-li ou rites des Tcheou. 

 431, note 7. 



Traduit par fidouard Biot, Paris, 1851, I, p. 



