Chinese characterI shêng= harmonious prosperity. Perhaps a potter's name (on Kuangtung ware).
Chinese characterKo ming–hsiang chih= made by Ko Ming–hsiang (eighteenth century).
Chinese characterKo yüan hsiang chih= made by Ko Yüan–hsiang (eighteenth century).
Chinese characterHuang yün chi= mark of Huang–yün (nineteenth century).
Chinese characterLi Ta–lai= potter's name.
Chinese characterHou–ch´ang= potter's name.
Chinese characterYi hsing tzŠsha= brown earth (lit. sand) of Yi–hsing.
Chinese characterMing–yüan= a late Ming potter at Yi–hsing.
Chinese characterHui mêng–chên= name of a late Ming potter at Yi–hsing, copied on modern wares.
Chinese characterCh´ên Ming Yüan chih= made by Ch´ên Ming–Yüan, Yi–hsing.
Chinese characterYü lan pi chih= secretly made by Yü–lan; Yi–hsing (nineteenth century).
Chinese characterWan li ting yu ch´ên wên ching su= Ch´ên Wên–ching modelled it in the ting–yu year of Wan Li (i.e. 1597).
Chinese characterChao–chin= a potter's name.
Chinese characterChung t´un shih= Chung–t´un family.
Chinese character(?)Li–chih= a potter's name.
Chinese characterShan jên ch´ên–wei= the hermit Ch´ên–wei.
Chinese characterLai–kuan= potter's name.
Chinese characterChao tsung ho yin= seal of Ho Chao–tsung.
Chinese characterChiang ming kao tsao= made by Chiang Ming–kao (about 1700).
Chinese characterCh´ên kuo chih tsao= made by Ch´ên Kuo–chih (about 1700).
Chinese characterTao kuang ting wei wên lang shan chih= made by Wên Lang–shan in theting–weiyear of Tao Kuang (i.e. 1847).
Chinese characterYü fêng yang lin= Yang Lin of Yü–fêng. (See Vol. ii., p. 212.)
Chinese character(?) Trader's mark on export porcelain. (See Vol. ii., p. 136.)
Chinese characterWang tso t´ing tso= made by Wang Tso–t´ing (early nineteenth century).
Chinese characterWang ping jung tso= made by Wan Ping–jung (early nineteenth century).
Chinese characterLing nan hui chê= Ling–nan (Canton) painting. Seal ofPai–shih(white rock). (See Vol. ii., p. 211.)
Chinese characterFu fan chih tsao= made on the borders of Fukien. (See Vol. ii., p. 108.)
Chinese characterThree examples of "shop marks."
(4)Marks of dedication, felicitation, etc.
In many cases the place of a date mark, hall mark, or potter's name is taken by a word or phrase commending or describing the ware or invoking a benediction on the possessor. Such marks may be conveniently subdivided into marks of (a) dedication, (b) felicitation, (c) commendation; to which may be added (d) symbols used as marks.
(a)Marks of dedicationindicating the destination or intention of the ware contain the name of a place or person or some word suggesting the use to which the vessel was dedicated. This group naturally overlaps that of the hall marks, there being no essential difference between a palace hall mark and such a mark asShu fu(Imperial palace) which was inscribed on the Imperial porcelain of the Yüan dynasty.
A few marks of dedication are mentioned in thePo wu yao lan[456]e.g.Chinese charactert´an(altar) on the altar cups of the Hsüan Tê period;ch´a(tea),Chinese characterchiu(wine),Chinese charactertsao t´ang(decoction of jujubes), andChinese characterchiang t´ang(decoction of ginger), which were inscribed inside the altar cups of the Chia Ching period, besidesChinese characterchin lu(golden seal),Chinese characterta chiao(great sacrifice), andChinese charactert´an yung(altar use), which were written beneath them; all indicating the offerings and the altars for which the cups were destined.
Dedications to temples, institutions, and even to individuals, often of considerable length, also occur not infrequently.
(b)Marks of felicitationinclude good wishes such asch´ang ming fu kuei(long life, riches and honour),wan fu yu t´ung(may infinite happiness embrace all your affairs), both of which have been noted on Ming porcelain; words of good omen such asfu,lu,shou, separately or together,chi(good luck),ch´ing(prosperity), etc.
(c)Marks of commendationare also frequent, especially in the K´ang Hsi period and on blue and white porcelain. They allude to the beauty of the ware, comparing it with jade or gold or gems, or to the subject of the decoration; and they vary in length from a single character such asyü(jade) to a sentence likech´i shih pao ting chih chên(a gem among precious vessels of rare stone).
(d) A sacred symbol or emblematic ornament often replaces the mark on K´ang Hsi porcelain; but as these will be found among the symbols, etc., described in vol. ii., ch. xvii., there is no need to discuss them any further. The most frequently used are thepa pao(Eight Precious Things), and thepa chi hsiang(the Eight Buddhist Emblems of Happy Augury).
MARKSOFFELICITATION,ETC.
Shun= harmony.
Lu= prosperity.
Shou= longevity (seal form).
The same, with the Swastika interwoven.
The "spider" mark, a fanciful form ofshou.
hsi(joy) repeated = double joy, a wedding symbol.
tê hua ch'ang ch'un= virtue culture and enduring spring; enclosed byWan li nien tsao= made in the Wan Li period (1573–1619).
tê hua ch'ang ch'un= virtue culture and enduring spring; enclosed byWan li nien tsao= made in the Wan Li period (1573–1619).
tê hua ch'ang ch'un= virtue culture and enduring spring; enclosed byWan li nien tsao= made in the Wan Li period (1573–1619).
Mark resembling a "cash" or coin inscribedch'ang ming fu kuei= long life, riches, and honours!
Mark resembling a "cash" or coin inscribedch'ang ming fu kuei= long life, riches, and honours!
Mark resembling a "cash" or coin inscribedch'ang ming fu kuei= long life, riches, and honours!
fu kuei ch'ang ch'un= riches, honours, and enduring spring!
Wan fu yu t'ung= a myriad happinesses embrace all (your affairs)!
Kung ming fu kuei Hung fu ch'i t'ien= a famous name, riches and honours, vast happiness equalling heaven!
t'ien t'i yi chia ch'un= spring time for the whole family of heaven and earth.
ta ya chai= pavilion of grand culture. The Empress dowager's mark.
MARKSOFCOMMENDATION
t´ien= heaven.
Chên= a gem.
Ya wan= elegant trinket.
Ch´üan= complete.
Yü= jade.
Chên wan= precious trinket.
fu kuei chia ch´i= fine vessel for the rich and honourable.
Nan ch´uan chin yü= embroidered jade of Nan–ch´uan (i.e. Ching–tê Chên).
Ch´i shih pao ting chih chên= a gem among precious vessels of rare stone.
Ai lien chên shang= precious reward of the lover of the lotus.
han hsing= to contain fragrance.
For other marks on porcelain and pottery seeMarks on Pottery and Porcelain, by W. Burton and R.L. Hobson, andThe New Chaffers.
MISCELLANEOUSMARKSANDSYMBOLS
Conch–shell.
Conch–shell.
Conch–shell.
Incense–burner (ting).
Incense–burner (ting).
Incense–burner (ting).
ju–ihead.
ju–ihead.
ju–ihead.
Knot (chang).
Knot (chang).
Knot (chang).
Swastika (wan).
Swastika (wan).
Swastika (wan).
Swastika in a lozenge symbol.
Swastika in a lozenge symbol.
Swastika in a lozenge symbol.
Stork (on a late Ming blue and white dish).
Stork (on a late Ming blue and white dish).
Stork (on a late Ming blue and white dish).
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
Artemisia leaf.
Artemisia leaf.
Artemisia leaf.
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fu(one of the twelve ornaments on ancient embroidery).
Fu(one of the twelve ornaments on ancient embroidery).
Fu(one of the twelve ornaments on ancient embroidery).
ENDOFVOL. I.
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