Page 46 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

into his possession and from those in the possession of

his friends, he selected eighty-two. Of these he gives

pictures, executed with great care in colours and ac-

companied by descriptions which, though they leave

much to be desired, are nevertheless of the greatest

value for the sake of both the confirmatory and the

original information they afford.

Under the Sung dynasty (960-1260) the principal
wares manufactured were seven in number, namely,

Ttng-yao, Kuan-yao, Kao-yao Lung-chuan-yao Ju-yao,

Chun-yao, and Chien-yao.

The Ting-yao was first manufactured at a place

called Ting-chou, in the northern province of Pe-

chili. There is some uncertainty as to the exact date

of its origin. According to the pharmacopoeia of

the 'Tang dynasty, as quoted by Dr. Hirth, a powder

prepared from white keramic ware of Ting-chou was

used for medicinal purposes as far back as the seventh

century, and it has already been seen that during the

Tang dynasty Pechili produced two varieties of white

ware called Hing-yao and Tsin-yao. It is possible

that confusion may have existed between products

presenting so many points of resemblance. At all

events, it was not till the Sung period that the Ting-

yao of Pechili came into note. It was then a fine

stone-ware or semi-porcelain, having light grey pate.

There were three principal varieties of glaze, viz.,

white, grape colour (purplish), and black. Of these
Athe white was the most important.
work on anti-

quarian subjects, published in 1387, says: "Old

Ting porcelain is valuable if the paste is fine and the

Lowcolour white and brilliant. qualities are coarse

and of a yellowish colour. If it has marks as of tears:

they may be taken as evidence of genuineness. Speci-

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