Page 64 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

32 CHINESE PORCELAIN.
sources so that in combination become
widely divergent, they
and
incongruous unmeaning.
"
Such is not, however, the case in the far East, especially
in China, where each colour and each flower has its appropriate
meaning and purpose."
Symbols.
"
The same author tells us, The first to be noticed are the
which have been termed and which
peculiar figures symbols,
are more usually found on Chinese than on Japanese porcelain.
These symbols are generally eight in number, although the
individual forms are apt to vary.
"
The number eight is somewhat of a favourite among the
Chinese, perhaps on account of the Pa-kwa, or eight mystical
trigrams, but it is also a number that admits of being sym-
metrically arranged."
"
I. The or emblems of the
pa-gan-sien, eight immortals,
which do not very frequently occur on porcelain as symbols.
These are especially Taoist."
II. "The pa-chi-siang, or eight lucky emblems of the
Buddhists. These are carved in wood, or made in clay, and
offered on the altar of every Chinese Buddhist temple, as well
as ad infinitum in architectural decoration are
repeated ; they
derived from India, and are, of course, used principally by the
Buddhists."
"
III. The ordinary pa-pao, or eight precious things ; they
are very variable, and do not seem to be connected with auy
special religion.
" be
They generally may distinguished from other orna-
ments by ribbons or fillets entwined around them."
These fillets are pieces of red cloth tied round anything
believed to possess the efficacy of a charm, and are supposed
to represent the rays or aura of the charm. They are, in fact,
to the charm what the halo is to the gods or goddesses.
Apart from this, or perhaps from this, the Chinese seem to
look of cloth tied in a as an omen
upon strips particular way
"
of good ; for Doolittle tells us, at p. 131, The white cloth
comes next to the clothing. Some or all of it is torn into strips,
and after being wound around the corpse in a certain manner,
is tied into a kind of knot, which is considered or
auspicious