Page 117 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

In yet another similarity to Cixi’s porcelain, Yuan was associated with several

distinct reign marks on the porcelain produced. The first mark, Jurentang zhi 居仁堂製,

meaning “Manufactured for the Hall of Dwelling in Benevolence,” was associated with

the palace building in which Yuan resided during his reign. 142 Most scholars consider the

Jurentang zhi reign mark as the official mark used during Yuan’s actual reign. The

second mark, Hongxian nian zhi 洪憲年制 (Made in the hongxian period), was probably

used after his rule had ended. There is a third mark associated with Yuan that reads

Huairentang zhi 懷仁堂製, meaning “Manufactured for the Hall of the Cultivation of

Benevolence.” 143 Similar to the Jurentang mark, the Huairentang zhi refers to a

residence within which Yuan resided. This mark was the least frequently found during

the course of this research. However, it is worth including in this study because the

actual Huairentang is located next to a palace formerly occupied by Cixi, indicating yet

another connection between these two individuals. For the purposes of this paper, Yuan

is considered the major patron behind all of these reign marks. 144 The use of these marks

clearly correlates to Empress Dowager Cixi’s creation of unique porcelain nianhao.

Yuan may have attempted to maintain traditions by using a nianhao connecting to all past

Chinese imperial porcelain. The reign marks selected by Yuan connected his

142 For a list of reign marks see Appendix B.
143 Avitabile, From the Dragon’s Treasure: Chinese Porcelain from the Nineteenth and Twentieth
Centuries in the Weishaupt Collection, 121.
144 Scholars that address this time period utilize several terms. The general term for porcelain
dating to post 1911 is “early Republic” or even “Republic.” While the term “Hongxian” would
only identify porcelain that had the reign mark associated with Yuan Shikai’s reign. However,
the reign marks are not completely accurate indicators of a date, as the mark was often applied to
later reproductions. The mark Jurentang was supposedly only used while Yuan was residing
within the Forbidden City. While the Hongxian mark was supposedly utilized after his death.
The Huairentang mark supposedly dates to only objects produced during his presidency. Due to
this, dating a porcelain by the mark alone is challenging. Porcelain with strong provenance is one
of the only ways to completely ensure a ware has been accurately dated.
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