Page 31 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

EARLY WARES OF CHINA

Chapter II

EARLY WARES OF CHINA.

the following remarks the term "early" is
applied to all ware manufactured prior to the

INSung dynasty (960-1279).
It is recorded that under the Wei dynasty
(220-265 A.D.) keramic ware for the use of the
Imperial Palace was supplied by two factories, but no

tradition exists as to the nature of the manufactures.

Under the next dynasty (the Tsin 265419) it is

stated that a ware called Tung-ngeu-tao was produced

in the littoral province now named Chekiang, at

Wen-chou-fu. It was green in colour, and much
Aesteemed for the brilliancy of its glaze.
treatise

on tea says that the best known vessels of this ware

were shallow, with straight rims and spreading bases.

The greatest capacity of the vessels is also mentioned :

according to M. Julien's calculation it was from -f$

to -j^f of a litre. The ware was probably green stone-

ware of comparatively crude technique.

In the Sui dynasty (581618), tradition speaks of

a species of green ware called Liu-tsu. It was the

work of an expert named Ho Chou, or Ho Kuei-lin,

President of the Board of Works in the beginning of

the seventh century and an antiquarian of established

reputation. Ho's object was to imitate a sort of

opaque glass (Liu-It) t the secret of manufacturing