THE TREE PEONY 



In some instances a cock is shown with the 

 peony — the association being based on the fact 

 that both had been held in high regard from the 

 earhest times. The lion — a favourite subject of 

 Chinese ceramic art — is usually pictured with 

 elaborately curled and dressed mane, disporting 

 joyously among peony flowers: apparently even 

 the animals in those days appreciated peonies. 



In the Han Period (206 B.C.-220 a.d.), when 

 all the arts were still in their infancy, I find no 

 decorations of peonies on pottery. In the crude 

 bas-reliefs of the time, there are birds which are 

 unmistakably phoenixes and trees or flowers which 

 by a slight exercise of the imagination may be 

 considered peonies. The bas-relief of the family 

 of Wu at Shantung, 147 a.d., is an example. 



In the Sung Period (960-1279 a.d.), among 

 the molded designs used in ceramics were 

 phoenixes flying among peonies. Brocaded pat- 

 terns composed of interlacing sprays of tree peo- 

 nies and lilies often occur. A spray of lotus or 

 peony was sometimes engraved under the glaze 

 of dishes. 



In the Ming Period (1368-1644 a.d.), when 

 Chinese pottery and porcelain reached a high 



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