Page 121 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

BLUE AND WHITE. 317

a military career, and between 1038 and 1042 fought no less
than battles the rebels under Chao Yuan-
twenty-five against
hao. He was eminently successful, partly owing to his great
On one occasion, with his hair
physical courage. flowing
loose behind him, and a mask over his
copper face, he
vigorously charged the enemy and struck consternation into
their ranks. . . . Between 1049 and 1054 he entirely
suppressed the dangerous rebellion of Nung Chih-kao in
Kuangsi ; but although the latter was reported to have perished,
Ti Ch'ing refused to memorialize the Throne to that effect, on
the of mere rumour, for his own He was
ground glorification.
always much esteemed as a general ; for he invariably shared
the and of his men, and was ever to
hardships danger ready
transfer the credit of success from himself to his subordinates.
Was canonized."
"
No. 545. During the T'ang dynasty a military mandarin
named Sieh-man was murdered a wicked minister, but his
by
little son named Sieh Ohiao was saved by a loyal officer, under
whose care he On his to his uncle's house to
grew up. way
discuss means for avenging his father's murder, this young
man met his cousin, who was unknown to him. The
picture
their
represents meeting."
Although the T'ang dynasty is mentioned above, this
seems to be the same tale as that embodied in the Chinese
play translated by the Jesuit Premare under the name of the
"
Orphan of Chaou," and which Voltaire made the groundwork
" "
of his de la Chine." It is founded on
tragedy, L'Orphelin
an event which occurred about a hundred before the
years
birth of Confucius. A military leader, having usurped the
lands of the house of Chaou, is determined on exterminating
the whole race. A faithful of the saves the
dependant family
life of the and male heir him and
orphan by concealing passing
off his own child in his stead. The is in
orphan brought up
ignorance of his real condition until he reaches man's estate,
when the whole revealed to him his tutor and
subject being by
he the fate of his on the
guardian, revenges family usurper,
and recovers his rights" (Davis, ii. 183).
No. 546. Blue and white plate. Diameter, 14| inches ;
"
height, 1 inch. Mark, Ching-hwa," in two blue rings. On
the border at the top and the bottom are three female