CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 385 



96. Rice hoirJ (sniall) of jmrt' white Yuni,n-hrii^' porcelain with straight riiu, orua- 

 luented with five similar medallions of sprays of peach hearing some white, 

 some pink hloom, and two jieaches and two hats in each, symholieal of a 

 long and happy life (see No. 27). Mark as above. This and next three 

 numbers are beautiful specimens. Height, 2^ inches; diameter, 3f inches. 



i»7. 98. Rice fioLls (a pair, small) of pure white Yungcheng porcelain, decorated with 

 three groups of fruit-bearing branches, one of peach, one of pomegranate, 

 and one or lutig i/rti (the "dragon-eye" fruit, NepheVmni Joiujtim). Mark as 

 above. Height, 2\ inches; diameter, ;i| inches. 



99. Rice hoirl (small), fellow to No. 89. 



100. J'late (?) of i>ure white Yungcheng porcelain covered with ornamentation no 



less remarkable for its wealth of detail than for the delicate harmony of its 

 coloring. In the center is a circular elevation of about 1\ inches diameter, 

 which has been cut off and hollowed out; on the depression thus made, 

 which is, however, still somewhat higher than the body of the plate, is 

 painted the character nhou (longevity) in blue on a yellow ground, which 

 color forms the ground of the eiitire plate, but is scarcely visible so thickly 

 is it covered with white, blue, and purple lotus flowers and formal foliage in 

 subdued tints. Among these flowers and equidistant from each other are 

 four shoK characters in blue forming tiny medallions, surrounded I)y a cor- 

 olla (which give them the appearance oihyi-fang-Ilm or Indian lotus flowers) 

 in light pink and lake. Four similar ornamentations enliven the rim. Of 

 the underpart the rim is j)lain yellow, and the bottom of the plate a very 

 delicate blue-green, except in center, where, in space corresponding to the 

 elevation on the upper side already mentioned, the four characters Yung- 

 cMng-nien-lehih "Made in Yungcheng period," in the ancient seal style, 

 appear in blue on white ground. Diameter, 5| inches. 



101. 102. Dishes (a pair) of white Y^ungcheng porcelain, circular in shape. The dec- 



oration inside ct)nsists of a pair of yihui-ii<tng swimming amid pink lotus flow- 

 ers and leaves in enamel colors, within a double ring; similar double ring at 

 brim. On outside is similar decoration with border round tlie 1)rim of small 

 imperial five-clawed dragons amid clouds with sun. Decoration shows it to 

 have been intended for wedding service in palace. Mark as on No. 85. 

 Diameter, 7 inches. 



The yilun-yang are the male and female, respectively, of Anas galericulata. 

 commonly called by Europeans " Mandarin duck." These beauti- 

 ful water fowl manifest when mated a singular degree of attachment 

 for each other, and they have hence been elevated into the emblems 

 of connubial affection and fidelity. 

 108, 104. Bowls (a pair ) of white Y^ungcheng porcelain with everted brim. Decoration 

 inside consists of, at bottom, a "sitting" imperial five-clawed dragon in ver- 

 milion within a double ring, with similar ring at brim. On outside are two 

 flying multi-colored /m^/ huang (see No. 4) separated on either side by an im- 

 perial five-clawed dragon, one green, the other red, among flowers and deli- 

 cate foliations in enamel colors; around the brim is a narrow border of the 

 Eight Buddhistic Emblems (see No. 54) joined by conventional foliate orna- 

 ments. :\Iark as on No. 85. Height, 2| inches; diameter, 6 inches. 

 105. Plate (large, open) of pure white Y'ungcheng porcelain beautifully decorated 

 with a bunch of large sprays of rose, pink peach, white peach, bamboos, and 

 longevity fungus {ling-chih), which, after spreading around the outside, pass 

 over the brim and cover the interior. Mark as on No. 85. A fine specimen, 

 beautifully painted. Diameter, 19^ inches. 



