Page 209 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

PORCELAIN DECORATED

as the object which they seek to grasp, and occasionally

flame-like rays of effulgence issue from it.

A1. circular object enclosing a square. This has been

identified as the Kwei or honorary tablet for officials, but
y

there appears to be little doubt that it was originally a repre-
"
sentation of the Chinese cash," a small copper coin having

a square hole through which a string is passed. The deco-

rative purpose of this symbol is to typify riches.

A3. lozenge-shaped object having fillets threaded

through it. This also is supposed to represent the Kwei, or
Twostone of honour for officials.
of such lozenges, with

Aoverlapping ends, form the dual symbol fang-shang.
4. lozenge-shaped object having a compartment
above. This is supposed to be a variety of No. 3.

5. An object resembling a mason's square, being the

king, a sonorous stone, or bronze plate, used like a bell in

China. An ideog"raph having the same sound (king) signi-
" " fortune," and the instru-
fies goodness," prosperity,"

ment is consequently depicted instead of the ideograph,

being carved in that sense on the ends of rafters and on

articles of furniture.

6. Two oblong objects placed close together, and sup-

posed to represent books hence symbols of literature,
;

which the Chinese hold in highest esteem.

A7. pair of curved objects, representing rhinoceros

horns (se-keo).

A8. leaf, of variable form; probably a leaf of the

artemisia (ai-yeh\ which is an emblem of good augury.

These symbols are sometimes seen carried by a
procession of fantastic figures, possibly tribute-bearers
from the tribes of the Man, or southern barbarians.

They are also used as marks, and " may generally be

distinguished from other ornaments by ribbons or fil-
lets entwined about them."

The Buddhist Symbols are called Pa-chi-siung, or
the eight lucky emblems of Buddhism. "They are
carved in wood or moulded in clay, and offered on

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