78 CHINESE IDEAS OF ANTIQUES 



varnish worn off, and will be black resembling ebony (Wu 

 Muh Mi *) (Malba elliptica Forst.) 



Therefore, when a lute has lost all trace of varnish and 

 become quite black, it may safely be reckoned to be a real 

 antique. 



IV. 

 PRECIOUS STONES. 



The T'ai P'ing Yii Lan (* ^ $p K) records the fact that 

 Kiao Cheo (^ 'M) produces Peh Yu (& 3£) or adularia. Yih 

 Leo (38 H) produces Ts'ing Yii (Hf 3£) or green jad^ gems. 

 Fu Yu (5fe t&) produces Ch'ih Yii {% 3E) or red jade. Ta 

 Chin (^C M) produces Ts'ai Yii (3c 3£) or vegetable coloured 

 gems. Si Shuh (M S) produces Heh Yii (J& 3£) or black 

 coloured jade. Lan Tien (H K) produces Mei Yii (H 3t) 

 gems whose colour is like indigo. 



The Pieh Pao King (M M K) says that if a stone is held 

 between the eyes and a lamp, the light will show whether 

 anything of special value is hidden in the stone, and will 

 also show up its beauty. If the stone reflects a reddish 

 colour like the newly risen sun, then it is certain that a gem 

 of some kind is encased in the stone. 



The yellow coloured gem is reckoned to be the most 

 valuable; the green, red, blue, black and white are all 

 inferior to it. 



All stones no matter w T hat colour they may be, if they 

 have a rice gruel appearance are of poor quality. The 

 yellow coloured gems vary considerably in quality, the best 

 should resemble the colour of boiled chestnuts. The nature 

 green should resemble the green of the tender willow leaves. 

 The green jade (^f) should resemble spinach leaves. The 

 red should resemble the colour of a cock's comb. The black 

 should resemble pure black varnish. The white should be 

 as white as newly sawn boat planks. Precious stones that 

 come up to these standards are of great value. 



The Han (W) dynasty period excelled in the art 

 of gem polishing. The ingenuity of it consisted in the 

 use of a double hook and blade lathe in the grinding 

 process. This lathe revolved in different directions, and 

 was thus easily adjusted into all the grains of the 

 stone which was polished without a trace of dis- 

 proportion. In places where it was necessary to make 

 a joint, the fine gossamer-like lines were joined together 

 without leaving the slightest trace of the operation. So 

 much so that even Sung dynasty artisans would not be 



