236 Field Museum oe Natural History — Reports, Vol. V. 



riched by these masters with a striking innovation which omitted the 

 roofs of the buildings, representing the interiors from a bird's-eye view 

 and blending the surrounding scenery with the domestic events. This 

 principle is felicitously embodied in this painting which depicts three 

 scenes from the famous classical romance Genji Monogatari written in 

 A.D. 1004. The scene on the right-hand side shows the hero. Prince 

 Genji, engaged with his friends in a discussion of the character of women. 

 The scene in the upper portion of the centre illustrates Prince Genji 

 gazing through a hedge at a group of ladies in the building. The scene on 

 the left-hand side of the screen represents Genji and his friend To-no- 

 chujo performing a war dance before the emperor in the palace Suzaku-in, 

 accompanied by the orchestra below, of two reed-organs, two flutes, and 

 two drums. The audience is formed by the members of the court seated 

 in a hall on the left-hand side; the women spectators being confined to a 

 special box on a lower level than the men. The characterization of 

 the figures is exqtdsite, and the technical means employed to this end are 

 of highest quality. In the costimies of four figures the designs are em- 

 bossed or raised in relief in the paper, while a rich scale of pigments is set 

 off from a gold-speckled brown background. The whole composition is as 

 monumental and artistic as the treatment of details is refined, acctirate, 

 and instructive. This painting personifies a live source of inspiration for 

 the study of ancient Japanese life, customs, and decorative forms, and it 

 is no exaggeration to say that this screen is one of the greatest Oriental 

 works of art which ever came to the Museum. Dr. Gunsaulus' ingenuity 

 and perspicacity in the discovery of this treasure cannot be praised enough, 

 and he is deserving of our heart-felt gratitude for his generous presenta- 

 tion, as well as for the thoughtfulness and spirit in which it is made. 



In the Department of Anthropology there were received as a gift 

 from Mr. H. W. Narjal five pieces of tapa cloth and three war clubs from 

 Samoa, a pair of Eskimo skin boots, and an ancient suit of chain mail 

 coming from Sweden, but probably manufactured in Persia. A very 

 interesting lot of Chinese pottery fragments was presented by Mr. E. B. 

 Christie who at a time was connected with the Philippine Museum of the 

 Bureau of Science, Manila, and discovered these bits in 191 5 in ancient 

 burial caves of Bohol, Philippine Islands. Some of these shards have 

 artistic and archaeological value, being as early as the time of the Simg 

 dynasty (tenth and eleventh centuries). There are several good ex- 

 amples of celadons which show that the sea-green glaze of this ware was 

 wrought over a porcelain body at that period, and a large series of other 

 glazes, particularly blue and whites. It is hoped that this material will 

 give occasion to a renewed and more profound study of the problem of 

 Chinese pottery in the Philippines, which was taken up in a pub- 



