THE CERAMIC ART IN CHINA. 445 



9. Small fish-ioivl of Hsiiante white porcelain, with ornameutatiou of viang or uu- 



horiied dragons with pointed head among very conventional clouds, and geo- 

 metrical pattern above running round brim, all incised 'n paste below a pale- 

 green or celadon glaze. Mark on foot Ta-ming-hsilaHtenien-chili, "Made 

 during the Hsiiante period of the Ming dynasty." Height, 6^ inches; diam- 

 eter, 8 ihches. 



The mang would appear to be properly a huge serpent or boa-constrictor. 

 In paintings, however, and in sculpture it is usually represented as 

 a lizard having a scowling head, with a beard at times depending 

 from the chin, and four feet bearing claws but without talons. On 

 the manff-p'ao, i, e., mang robe, the court dress, no mang, properly 

 speaking, appears, its place being taken by a four clawed or taloned 

 dragon. , 



10. Tall vase, in shape of bag, with long neck bound around with a ribbon tied in 



bow, of Ch'enghua (1465 to 1487) white j)orcelain covered with a yellow- 

 black glaze. Height, 13^ inches ; diameter, 7f inches. 



11. Slender vase of pure white Ch'enghua porcelain; decoration, immortals or genii 



engaged in literary contests aud attended by servants in rocky valley, with 

 bamboo thickets painted in bright-blue under glaze. Mark Ta-ming-oh'eng-hua- 

 nien-chih, " Made during the Ch'enghua period of the Ming dynasty." Height, 

 lOJ inches. 

 134. Pencil-holder, circular in shape and very broad, of white Ch'enghua porcelain ; 

 decoration, which is in beautiful shade of blue under transparent glaze — a 

 long poem from the pen of the celebrated poet Li Tai-po, of the Sung dynasty, 

 inculcating the epicurean philosophy, which may be summed up in Horace's 

 words, Carpe diem, qua7n minime credula poster o. The advice contained in the 

 poem is being put into practice by a merry party round the festive board, 

 whose actions seem to express the words of the Latin author, Fruamur bonis 

 quce sunt ; pretioso vino et unguentis nos impleamas, nonprwtereat nosjios iemporis. 

 No mark. Height, 6 inches; diameter, 6-^ inches. 



12. Small howl to hold flowers or water for use on ink slab, of white Ch'engte (1506 to 



1521) porcelain, covered outside with milky blue glaze, inside plain, coarsely 

 crackled inside and out. Mark Ta-ming-cheng-te-nien-cMeh, "Made during 

 the Chengte period of the Great Ming dynasty." Height, 2| inches; diam- 

 eter, 4^ inches. 



13. Jar, o£ poticJie shape, of Wanti (1573 to 1619) white porcelain; decoration, flying 



fenghuang and dragons (see No. 4), with flowers between, and above a border 

 of formal pattern, resembling inverted spear-heads; cover has small pattern 

 running round it with dragon on top ; ornamentation throughout is engraved 

 in paste and of bright yellow upon a vivid-green ground. Mark Ta-ming- 

 tvanti-nien-cMJi, " Made during the Wanti period of the Great Ming dynasty." 

 Height, 6f inches; diameter, 6i inches. 



14, 15. Bowls (2), with scalloped brim, of white porcelain decorated with red and 

 gold plum-blossoms, alternating with gourd-shaped vases having a decora- 

 tion in gold on a blue ground or formal flowers, resembling pinka and chrys- 

 anthemums in white, red, and gold, or all gold, upon a salmon-colored 

 ground, with long twisted ribbons attached, the decoration passing from out- 

 side over the brim to inside, where at bottom, confined by a double circle, is 

 a blue dragon in white, green, aud red clouds. Round foot on outside is 

 small pattern. Marked as last, but decoration and caligraphy of date mark 

 show the ware to be of Japanese manufacture. Height, 3^ inches; diameter, 

 7f inches. 



16, 17. Jars (2), circular in shape, the walls rising perpendicularly, of Ming dynasty 

 porcelain, decorated with iris and leaves boldly outlined iu relief and cov- 

 ered with thick glazes of difi"erent colors, the flowers being yellow and the 



