458 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



ponding holes left for the purpose in tbe bricks that one surface 

 showed on either side of the setting with a rich and pretty efifect, 

 one surface displaying some historical scene, the other a group of 

 flowers. Good specimens are now comparatively rare, and are now 

 much sought after by foreigners to saw in half for the niannfactnre 

 of caclie-pots. 

 77,78. Panels (2) of white K'anghsi porcelain, of similar origin to the above, but of 

 inferior style of painting. 



79. Brick (small) of white K'anghsi porcelain, showing the appearance of Nos. 61 to 



78 in their original condition, before the surface-plates had been sawn away 

 from the central portion into which fitted the wooden projections serving to 

 keep the porcelain ornamentation in its position in the couch, 



80. Fase of white K'anghsi porcelain ; shape, slender potiche. The ornamentation in 



chief seems to depict a young officer leaving his post after a virtuons tenure 

 of office, which has won for him not only promotion from the Emperor but 

 also the love of the people he has ruled over. A young man dressed in pink is 

 represented riding a piebald horse. (In the time of K'anghsi the Manchu 

 officers despised and ridiculed Chinese luxury and ceremony, and with them 

 the Sedan-chairs they have in later days adopted, with almost all else that is 

 Chinese, from the conquered nation ; and rode on horseback with but few 

 attendants.) Over him an attendant is holding an official umbrella, which 

 from its three flowers of different colors would appear to be a wati-ming-san, 

 or " umbrella of ten thousand names," an ofi'ering made to a virtuous and 

 upright officer on his departure from his post by a grateful people, and so 

 called from the fact that it bears upon it the names of the donors either 

 embroidered or in black velvet applique. He is preceded by men bearing 

 lanterns and followed by an attendant carrying a scroll wrapped in Imperial 

 yellow silk, indicative of a communication from the throne. Round the part 

 where the vase diminishes in size runs a band of floral pattern on a pink 

 ground interrupted by panels containing grotesque representations of 

 dragons, the whole bounded on either side by bands of a geometric pattern in 

 blue — all painted seemingly above the glaze. No mark. Height, lOf inches. 



81. Vase of pure white K'anghsi porcelain, tall, the body bellying out from the foot 



and then gradually tapering upwards. On one side is a character shou 

 (longevity), on the other the character fa (happiness) in a diaper pattern in 

 black upon a dark-enamel green. In the center of either of these characters 

 is a medallion about 4 inches in diameter, containing mythological represen- 

 tations appropriate to the character in which it is placed. On the former is 

 the Genius of Longevity (as Lao Tze, see No. 54) riding a white stork into the 

 midst of the Immortals. On the latter Tung Wang Kung, the consort of the 

 Queen of the Fairies (see No. 28), is handing a baby the elixir of life, while 

 another of the sages stands by holding the jui. Where the body of the vase 

 springs from the foot is a band of formal geometric pattern and around rim 

 is a border of flowers on dark grey ground interrupted by white panels in- 

 closing flowers, the whole supported by a narrow band of geometrical design. 

 A beautiful specimen of K'anghsi ware. Height, 16J inches. 



Theju-i is a curved baton, generally carved in jade or some other valua- 

 ble material. It is probably of Buddhistic origin as it is one of the 

 seven precious things (Sansk. Sapta Eatna) and appears in Buddhist 

 pictures in the hands of priests of high rank. It is also regarded as 

 a symbol of the power of the faith. In China it is commonly 

 considered an emblem of good luck, its name signifying "(May 

 all be) as you wish," and is therefore frequently used as a present 

 to friends or at a wedding. It is also a sign of authority, owing 

 to the fact that it is believed to have been used in India as a scepter. 



