460 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



colored greeu, the other dragon aubergine purple on yellow ground; outside, 

 lound the rim, four flying/<'M^ liuang (see No. 4), between each two are cuniuii 

 clouds, all engraved in paste and colored green upon a yellow ground. On 

 foot also yellow. Mark, as above, in aubergine purple. Diameter, . "if inches. 



l»:i Saucer oi pure white Yungcheng porcelain. Plain inside; on outside the bulg- 

 ing rim is decorated with red lotus flowers (NelumJnum speeiosum), blue corn- 

 flowers and conventional foliage on black ground. Mark, as above, in blue. 

 A small but admirable specimen of the black ground porcelain produced by 

 Fangying. (C/. Preface.) Diameter, 4| inches. 



94,9;"). Wine-cups (a pair) of pure white Yuugchtug porcelain, decorated with fou 

 medallions of formal floral scroll-pattern. Mark, as in last. Height, If 

 inches; diameter, 2| inches. 



9G. /i'(ce-i»owZ(small)ofpure white Yungcheng porcelain with straight rim, ornamented 

 with five similar medallions of sprays of peach bearing some white, some 

 pink bloom, and two peaches and two bats in each, symbolical of a long and 

 happy life (see No. 27). Mark as above. This and next three numbers are 

 beautiful specimens. Height, 2^ inches; diameter, 3f inches. 



97,98. Bice-bowls (a pair, small) of pure -white Yungcheng porcelain, decorated with 

 three groups of fruit-bearing branches, one of peach, oneof poniegranafe, and 

 one of lung yen (the "dragon-eye" fruit, Nephelium longum). Mark as above. 

 Height, 2i inches ; diameter, 3f inches. 



99. Eice-hotvl (small), fellow to No. 88. 



100. P/a(e(?)of pure white Yungcheng porcelain covered with ornamontatlon no less 



remarkable for its wealth of detail than for the delicate harmony of its col- 

 oring. In the center is a circular elevation of about IJ inches diameter, 

 which has been cut ott'and hollowefl out ; on the depression thus made, which 

 is, however, still somewhat higher than the body of the plate, is painted the 

 character shou (longevity) in blue on a yellow ground which color forms 

 the ground of the entire plate, but is scarcely visible so thickly is it covered 

 with white, blue, and purple lotus-flowers and formal foliage in subdued tints. 

 Among these flowers and equidistant from each other are four s/io« characters 

 in blue forming tiny medallions, surrounded by a corolla (which give them 

 the appearance of hsi-fang-lien or Indian lotus flowers) in light pink and lake- 

 Four similar ornamentations enliven the rim. Of the underpart the rim is 

 plain yellow, and the bottom of the plate a very delicate blue-green, except 

 in center, where, in space corresponding to the elevation on the upper side 

 already mentioned, the four char acters Yung-cheng-nien Chih "Made in Yung- 

 cheng period," in the ancient seal style, appear in bine on white ground. 

 Diameter, 5f inches. 

 101,102. Dishes (a pair) of white Yungcheng porcelain, circular in shape. The decora- 

 tion inside consists of a pair of yilan-yang swimming amid pink lotus flow- 

 ers and leaves in enamel colors, within a double ring; similar double ring at 

 brim. On outside is similar decoration with border round the brim of small 

 imperial flve-clawed dragons amid clouds with sun. Decoration shows it to 

 have been intended for wedding service in palace. Mark as on No. 85. Di- 

 ameter, 7 inches. 



The yiinnyang are the male and female repectively of Anas galericulata, 

 commonly called by Europeans "Mandarin duck." These beautiful 

 water-fowl manifest when mated a singular degree of attachment 

 for each other, and they have hence been elevated into the emblejns 

 of connubial affection and fidelity. 

 103,104. Bowls (a pair) of white Yungcheng porcelain with everted brim. Decoration 

 inside consists of, at bottom, a " sitting" imperial five-clawed dragon in ver- 

 milion within a double ring, with similar ring at brim. On outside are two 

 flying multi-colored /e«(/ liuang (See No. 4) separated on either side by an im- 

 perial five-clawed dragon, one green, the other red, among flowers and deli- 



