3'.>4 RKPOKT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1900. 



of jrreen enamel in high relief on deep orange ground. Mark in vermilion 

 same a!< on Nos. 180, 187. Diameter, 80 inchen. (See Plate 9. ) 



At the Tnan i/mig festival, on the oth day of the 5th moon of each year, 

 spedal offering.>J are made to these insects, and rough paintings of 

 similar design to these plates are then hung over the door of each 

 house. 

 P.k;. \'ii.^r of white Chieidung porcelain, slender in shape, slojiing gently outward to 

 alxtut two-thirds of height, then gently contracting to form neck, wliii-h 

 curves outward at brim. Upon a ground of delicate pale green throughout 

 is painted the decoration, which consists of conventional flowers and foliage 

 of varied colors outlined in gold. This main decoration is confined at foot 

 hy a deep border of formal foliated scroll pattern in l)rick re<l on a yellow 

 ground, and at base of neck by a narrow border of same, from which 

 springs a crown of V)anana leaves of light green, veined with gold and out- 

 lined with blue; above this is a band of conventional flowers and f(jliage 

 confined by a foliate scroll outlined with blue and gold on a yellow ground. 

 Mark in gokl same as on Nos. 186, 187. Height, 13| inches. 



194. Vast' of white Chienlung porcelain. Circular in shape, curving gently outward 



till at four-fifths of its height it contracts to form a short neck curving out- 

 ward at brim. On a ground of pea green covered with a foliated pattern 

 engraved in the i)aste branches of yulan (magnolia coitxplcuu), red peach 

 blossom, peonies with full-blown flowers of red and of yellow, with vermilion 

 buds, spring from a cluster of rocks on which stands the sacred feufjliuang 

 (see No. 4), all beautifully painted and shaded in natural colors under 

 l>rilliant glaze, the greens being enamels. Inside of vessel, gold. Mark as 

 in Nos. 186, 187. Height, 19^- inches. (See Plate 10. ) 



195. Vnxi', tall, circular in shape. On a pea-green ground covered with a small 



foliate pattern incised in the paste is an old man, holding a long crooked 

 stick and dressed in a long vermilion cloak, with a tall conical cap upon his 

 liead, to whom a boy dressed in pink is presenting on bended knee a Ijat, 

 while four other l)ats hover in the air, well painted under a brilliant glaze. 

 No mark. Height, 14f inches. (See Plate 10.) 



A common motive with Chinese artists is the presentation to Lao Tze 

 (see No. 54), the great philosopher and founder of the Taoist sect, 

 of an immortality pea(;h by Tung Wang Kung, the consort of the 

 legendary Queen of the Fairies, Hsi Wang Mu, or by one of his 

 attendants, on the Sage's arrival at her mountain palace in the 

 K'unlun range (see No. 28). The same subject is here depicted, a 

 bat replacing the jjeach. Since the pronunciation of the character 

 for "bat" is the .same as of that for " happiness," the five bats sym- 

 bolize the "five blessings or happinesses." Lao Tze is receiving 

 the first, "longevity;" the remaining four — riches, peacefulness and 

 serenity, love of virtue, and an end crowning the life — hover over 

 his head. 

 YMy-20\. Wine cups (6) of white Chienlung porcelain, colored, inside, pale green; oh(- 

 side, deep blue [bleu de roi), on which spread sprays of peony, yulan [mag- 

 uoUu conspima), and grasses delicately painted in gold, and confined at brim 

 and where cup springs from the foot by a band of Grecian pattern, also in 

 gold. Good si)ecimens, well preserved. Mark as on Nos. 186, 187. Height, 

 If; diameter, 2| inches. 

 202, 203. Vases (a pair) of pure white Chienlung porcelain, of shape termed by Chinese 

 h'li-t'ang, ( ('iidouia japnnica and Pi/rns spectabilis ur harcif era), '■slender, gently 

 Ijulging to two-thirds height, then contracting slightly to neck, everted at 

 mouth, entirely covere<l with deei)-blue glaze {hlen deroi); divided by flut- 

 ings into four sections throughout, each section or scallop decorated with 



