Chinese character I shêng = harmonious prosperity. Perhaps a potter's name (on Kuangtung ware).
Chinese character Ko ming–hsiang chih = made by Ko Ming–hsiang (eighteenth century).
Chinese character Ko yüan hsiang chih = made by Ko Yüan–hsiang (eighteenth century).
Chinese character Huang yün chi = mark of Huang–yün (nineteenth century).
Chinese character Li Ta–lai = potter's name.
Chinese character Hou–ch´ang = potter's name.
Chinese character Yi hsing tzŭ sha = brown earth (lit. sand) of Yi–hsing.
Chinese character Ming–yüan = a late Ming potter at Yi–hsing.
Chinese character Hui mêng–chên = name of a late Ming potter at Yi–hsing, copied on modern wares.
Chinese character Ch´ên Ming Yüan chih = made by Ch´ên Ming–Yüan, Yi–hsing.
Chinese character Yü lan pi chih = secretly made by Yü–lan; Yi–hsing (nineteenth century).
Chinese character Wan 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 character Chao–chin = a potter's name.
Chinese character Chung t´un shih = Chung–t´un family.
Chinese character (?) Li–chih = a potter's name.
Chinese character Shan jên ch´ên–wei = the hermit Ch´ên–wei.
Chinese character Lai–kuan = potter's name.
Chinese character Chao tsung ho yin = seal of Ho Chao–tsung.
Chinese character Chiang ming kao tsao = made by Chiang Ming–kao (about 1700).
Chinese character Ch´ên kuo chih tsao = made by Ch´ên Kuo–chih (about 1700).
Chinese character Tao kuang ting wei wên lang shan chih = made by Wên Lang–shan in the ting–wei year of Tao Kuang (i.e. 1847).
Chinese character Yü 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 character Wang tso t´ing tso = made by Wang Tso–t´ing (early nineteenth century).
Chinese character Wang ping jung tso = made by Wan Ping–jung (early nineteenth century).
Chinese character Ling nan hui chê = Ling–nan (Canton) painting. Seal of Pai–shih (white rock). (See Vol. ii., p. 211.)
Chinese character Fu fan chih tsao = made on the borders of Fukien. (See Vol. ii., p. 108.)
Chinese character Three 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 dedication indicating 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 as Shu fu (Imperial palace) which was inscribed on the Imperial porcelain of the Yüan dynasty.
A few marks of dedication are mentioned in the Po wu yao lan[456] e.g. Chinese character t´an (altar) on the altar cups of the Hsüan Tê period; ch´a (tea), Chinese character chiu (wine), Chinese character tsao t´ang (decoction of jujubes), and Chinese character chiang t´ang (decoction of ginger), which were inscribed inside the altar cups of the Chia Ching period, besides Chinese character chin lu (golden seal), Chinese character ta chiao (great sacrifice), and Chinese character t´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 felicitation include good wishes such as ch´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 as fu, lu, shou, separately or together, chi (good luck), ch´ing (prosperity), etc.
(c) Marks of commendation are 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 as yü (jade) to a sentence like ch´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 the pa pao (Eight Precious Things), and the pa chi hsiang (the Eight Buddhist Emblems of Happy Augury).
MARKS OF FELICITATION, ETC.
Shun = harmony.
Lu = prosperity.
Shou = longevity (seal form).
The same, with the Swastika interwoven.
The "spider" mark, a fanciful form of shou.
hsi (joy) repeated = double joy, a wedding symbol.
tê hua ch'ang ch'un = virtue culture and enduring spring; enclosed by Wan li nien tsao = made in the Wan Li period (1573–1619).
Mark resembling a "cash" or coin inscribed ch'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.
MARKS OF COMMENDATION
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 see Marks on Pottery and Porcelain, by W. Burton and R.L. Hobson, and The New Chaffers.
MISCELLANEOUS MARKS AND SYMBOLS
Conch–shell.
Incense–burner (ting).
ju–i head.
Knot (chang).
Swastika (wan).
Swastika in a lozenge symbol.
Stork (on a late Ming blue and white dish).
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
The moon hare.
Artemisia leaf.
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fungus (ling–chih).
Fu (one of the twelve ornaments on ancient embroidery).
END OF VOL. I.
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