Page 114 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

82 CHINESE PORCELAIN.

combined. This creature is the attendant of the god of waters,
and it has the power of assuming divers transformations. In
the shape of the tortoise is also depicted the pi-hi, a god of
rivers, to whom enormous strength is attributed ; and this
monster is in stone as the
supernatural frequently sculptured
of as
support huge monumental tablets, planted immovably,
it were, upon its steadfast back. The conception is probably
derived from the same source with that of the Hindoo legend
of the tortoise an on whose back the
supporting elephant,
world
existing reposes."
seldom found on Chinese
Although comparatively porcelain,
it occurs very often on Japanese, when it is represented with
a hairy tail.
" A
Jacquemart says, p. 29, study of these fantastic
beings is indispensable in order to appreciate the decoration
of Chinese vases." In addition to those before named, he gives
"The Dog of Fo, or (Lion) of the Corea" (see Nos. 279, 329),
"which has his feet armed with claws, a face with
grinning
sharp teeth, and a curly mane ; its general aspect would cause
it to be taken for a lion modified by Oriental fancy. Old
hunters call it a Chimera. The of Fo is the
curiosity Dog
habitual defender of the thresholds of the temples and of the
Buddhic altars it is often This is probably
; very represented."
" '
the animal we find on the covers of known as lion
jars tops
"
or kylin tops."
The Sacked Hokse. — 29 : " relates
Jacquemart, p. History
that, at the moment Fou-hi was seeking to combine the cha-
racters proper to express the various forms of matter, and the
relation between things physical and intellectual, a wonderful
horse came out of the river, bearing upon his back certain signs,
of which the philosophic legislator formed the eight diagrams
which have preserved his name" (see No. 321). When repre-
"
sented with the of a fish, it is known as a horse."
body dragon
The above by no means exhaust the list of fabulous
animals at the service of the ceramic artist ; there are others
without name, and whose must be left to the
description
"
imagination, for in vol. i. p. 83, of the Middle Kingdom,"
quoting from a native work referring to the pagoda at Nanking,
"
we read : In 1801, the God of Thunder, while expelling a
strange monster, chased him to this place, when instantly three