CHINESE IDEAS OF ANTIQUES 77 



aspect and thus escaped the direct rays of the sun during 

 its period of growth, and is called "female quality' 

 timber. If any one should be inclined to doubt this 

 statement, let them take a log of "p'ao t'ung " timber 

 and cast it into a tank of water, and it will immediately be 

 seen that the masculine side of the log will turn upper- 

 most, while the feminine side will go under the water. 

 If you turn the "Yin" side of the timber on top, 

 it will only remain in that position as long as it is held, and 

 will naturally turn over and go under whenever it is 

 released. There is still another method by which this may 

 be tested, and one which even few musicians of any period 

 have been able to appreciate. A lute made of wood taken 

 from the Yang E! aura side of a p'ao t'ung log, will be dull 

 and heavy in tone in the morning, but clear and penetrating 

 in the evening. It will also be dull in tone when the 

 weather is line, and clear in tone when the weather is wet 

 and dull. When the dew is falling it will not produce the 

 bell-ringing or cock-crowing sounds, when the evening is 

 still and quiet, the moon clear and shining then its musical 

 qualities may be heard at their very best. 



On the other hand a lute made of timber taken from 

 the Yin P* quality side cf a log, will be clear in tone in 

 the morning and dull and heavy in the evening. When 

 the weather is dry and clear, its tone will also be clear, but 

 when the weather is wet and dull, its tone will also be heavy 

 and dull. The lute is a magic instrument, and may be 

 likened to a living and animated thing which is endowed 

 with special powers to influence the hearts and minds of 

 men. No other instrument can in anv way be compared to 

 it. 



The timber for making good lutes must be both old 

 and well seasoned. The best quality should be a crimson 

 colour throughout, without the slightest trace of white 

 anywhere. It will be all the more valuable if the grain is 

 fine and the timber hard. If good "p'ao t'ung " timber 

 cannot be found it is useless to attempt to make lutes, 

 especially the belly part of it. Second rate p'ao t'ung 

 may be used for making Muh Yu (>fc HR) to be used by the 

 priests when chanting. It can also be used to make the 

 ribs of large drums for temple use. 



The back of a lute may be made out of five or six 

 hundred years old Tsi Muh (4$ fc) or Hemsel Lindera. This 

 should be so hard that if the thumb nail is pressed into it 

 no impression will be left upon it. 



The varnish and colour of ancient lutes are also 

 important points. The real antique will naturally have all 



