Page 78 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

CHINESE PORCELAIN.
46
which send to each other on this occasion
congratulation they
(New Year) have a woodcut, representing the three principal
felicities in Chinese estimation — namely, offspring, official em-
ployment (or promotion), and long life. These are indicated
by the figures of a child, a mandarin, and an aged figure
accompanied by a stork, the emblem of longevity."
Stokk, Tortoise, and Fir-tree. — "Middle Kingdom,"
vol. i. 263 : " The stork is considered to be, with the tor-
p.
toise and fir-tree, one of the emblems of longevity, and the
three are on cards at New Year
grouped together visiting t
in a pretty picture, implying the wish that there may be
many happy returns of the season."
—
Pagodas. Several of the Chinese deities are represented
holding a pagoda in their hands ; and on p. 408, Doolittle gives
a of a a while he tells us it is
picture boy worshipping pagoda,
" '
usual to light up the pagodas during the Autumnal Festival
— which seems to be held in honour of the moon — and that
some of the cakes used at that time are made in the shape
of a pagoda.
Davis, vol. ii. p. 83 : " Although Budha is not now
worshipped in India, he is at least considered as the ninth
incarnation of Vishnu. It may, therefore, be conjectured that
the nine stories of the pagodas have some reference to this
circumstance, the real meaning of the number never having
been exactly ascertained. Pagodas with only seven stories
are to be met with ; and it is possible that this number may
convey a mystical allusion to the seven Buclhas who are said
to have existed at different periods."
161 : " The
Mayers, p. pagoda-bearing god, corresponding
to the Indian Vajrapani, the jagged thunderbolt in the hand
of this deity being apparently mistaken by the Chinese for a
which in their he is as
pagoda, drawings represented wielding."
"
Lock. — " Middle Kingdom," vol. ii. p. 272: A man collects
a cash or two from each of his friends, and gets a lock made,
which he hangs to his son's neck in order to lock him to life,
and make the subscribers surety for his safety. Adult females
also wear a neck-lock for the same purpose."
Mirror.—" Middle Kingdom," vol. ii. p. 272 : " Old brass
mirrors, to cure mad people, are hung up by the rich in their
halls."