466 REPOKT OF NA.TIONAL MUSEUM, 1888. 



164-167. Rice-bowh (4) of white Yuugchdug- porcelain covered with closely-crackled 

 (triiite) glaze, haviug a pnrple tiut rubbed into the crackling. Decoration, 

 inside, at bottom, a peach with six leaves, foi'uiiug a medallion ; outside, four 

 of the Buddhistic emblems (see No. 54), each supported on either side by a 

 spray of flowers, to which it is attached by long flowing ribbons. Mark as 

 on No. 85, in black on crackled foot. Height, 2 inches; diameter, 5;^ inches. 



168. Peiicil-ivasher of earthenware in shape of a longevity peach sliced in half. It 



is covered inside with thick white-blue glaze studded with deep pittings, as 

 of burst bubbles, a rose and buds at bottom ; outside is colored with the 

 natural shades of an unripe peach. The handle is formed of the woody stalk, 

 which throws out smaller shoots running over the sides of fruit, upon 

 which are full-blown flowers, unopened buds, leaves, and green fruit 

 molded in high relief and painted in natural colors. A curious specimen 

 of a ware much esteemed by the Chinese. No mark. Height, It} inches. 



169. €uj> of pure white Yuugcheng porcelain of circular shape, everted. Decoration 



consists of, inside, waves at bottom, at sides bats, and at brim a border of 

 Grecian pattern, all engraved in paste under transparent glaze; outside, 

 between bands of a very delicate diaper pattern of red at brim, and of 

 green with light-red center at foot, is depicted a high officer (possibly the 

 Emperor himself) with two attendants descending the steps of a pavilion 

 built under the shade of wide-spreading trees, and bearing in his arms the ju-i, 

 or emblem of power, to meet a military officer, who, having just dismounted 

 from his horse, around which stand subordinate officers and attendants, 

 is advancing to meet the former. The inscription Ch'u-chiang-ju-huang-chih- 

 pei, " Cup of him who departed as General and returned as Grand Secre- 

 tary," shows the cup to have been ordered by the Emperor to confer upon 

 some high officer who had been commander-in-chief in some war, and who 

 had been invested with the high d istinction of grand secretary upon his return 

 crowned with victory. It should be added that in China military officers 

 always occupy a relatively lower rank than do civil officers, and that 

 the dignity of grand secretary, of which there are four, is the highest to 

 which any subject, not of princely rank, can attain. Who the officer so 

 honored in this instance was has not been as yet determined. Apart from 

 the intrinsic interest attaching to such a specimen, the cup is remarkable 

 for the miniature-like delicacy and wealth of detail which characterize the 

 painting. Mark Hsil-hua-Vang-cliih-taeng, "Made for Hsii hua Pavilion 

 (the designation of part of the Imperial Palace, i. e., for the Emperor) to 

 confer upon" some high officer. Height, 2 inches; diameter, 4 J inches. 



170. Vase of white Yuugcheng porcelain. Circular in shape, circumfrence rising 



straight to one-half the height of vase, when it suddently contracts to form 

 long, narrow neck. Decoration consists of formal flowers, peaches, and 

 foliage in natural colors on light-blue ground, except where three gold circles 

 form as many medallions on the white ground, on which are painted groups 

 of chrysanthemums and red cwleus in natural colors. No mark. Height, 

 C inches ; diameter, 4i inches. 



171. Pencil-washer of white Ming porcelain: for details see above, p. 410 

 172-175. Plates (small) of white Ming porcelain : for details see above, p. 410. 



176. Pilgrim- bottle of pure white Chieulung (1736 to 1796) porcelain of wheel shape 

 on an ovate fool, with low circular neck attached by foliated handles. 

 Deooratiou on front and back consists of a central boss beariup, a formal 

 foliate pattern, and surrounded by a band of Grecian pattern ; round the 

 boss as center are eight lambrequin panels, each containing one of the eight 

 Buddhistic emblems (see No. 54), the panels being confined by another band of 

 Grecian pattern. This ornamentation and a baud of Grecian pattern round 

 the brim of neck are molded in relief on the paste, and, together with the plain 



