TOY DOGS IN CHINESE ART 



In memory of these dogs he caused to be made circular 

 porcelain snuff bottles of large size. Upon them is pictured 

 in five-coloured enamel a representation of these three dogs, 

 each with its name, together with a pine-tree, a plum-tree, 

 and bamboo branches. These three trees are found on other 

 snuff-bottles without dogs. 



Now Confucius said, " In winter the pine-tree does not 

 shed its leaves." To Confucians the pine-tree is therefore 

 symbolical of stability under adverse conditions. 



The plum-tree and the bamboo are considered symbolical 

 of the same idea of fidelity under adversity to the Chinese, 

 because it is in winter that the plum-tree flowers, while the 

 leaves of the bamboo remain green throughout the cold 

 season. This picture presented to two friends would bear 

 the sender's wish : 



1 Through fire, or the winter of adversity, may our friend- 

 ship remain as full of life as the pine, the bamboo, and the 

 plum-tree." 



195 



