Page 86 - Chiense TExtiles, MET MUSEUM Pub 1934

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
actually gripping the jewel is supposed to be worn on
the occasion of an eclipse, the old Chinese idea of an
eclipse being that the dragon was about to swallow the
sun or the moon, as the case might be.
The designs on the sleeve bands from women's
robes are more frequently than not symbolical as well
as decorative, some showing combinations of symbols,
others categories of lucky things. Equally popular for
sleeve-band designs are scenes from history and litera-
ture, among which scenes from the Hung Lou Men
("Dream of the Red Chamber"), a great Chinese novel
of the eighteenth century, and the Hsi Hsiang chi
("Record of the Western Chamber"), a poetic drama
of about the thirteenth century, are favorites. A very
charming illustration of one of these incidents may be
found on the pair of sleeve bands shown in figure 29,
where the popular talented-youth-and-beautiful-maiden
theme is depicted. The episode is from the Hsi Hsiang
chi. On one band Chang Sheng, the hero, is seen nap-
ping over his harp, after waiting for hours, no doubt,
for the arrival of Ying Ying, and, seated on the floor,
the page dozes oif also. In the foreground crossing the
bridge is the tardy Ying Ying on her way to Chang
Sheng. The other band shows Lady Cheng, the mother
of Ying Ying, on the following morning, seated before
her mirror as she dresses her hair, assisted by the maid,
Hung Niang. Ying Ying sits pensively by, with a dis-
tinctly self-conscious look as she waits to learn whether
her visit has been found out by her mother.
76