Page 169 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

FAMILLE VERTE. 337

The reserves are filled with the
eight symbols, diapers being
in four those alike each other
patterns, facing ; in two of the
designs it will be noticed the swastika has been introduced.
The motive in the centre the Seven Worthies of
represents
the
Bamboo-grove, with four attendants.
231 " The Seven Worthies of the Bamboo-
Anderson, p. :
grove were a famous club of learned men in the third century,
whose were held in a of bamboos. to
meetings grove According
Thornton (' History of China,' vol. i. p. 416), these men effected
much evil in China their tenets and
by pernicious example.
'
They disregarded and decried all laws and ceremonies, and
professed a base kind of Epicureanism, pretending that human
happiness consisted in a complete emancipation from all cares
and distractions of life, and in unrestrained in wine.'
indulgence
There are few more than this
subjects frequently represented
by the painters of the older schools."
27: "Chuh Lin Ts'i Hien. The club of the
Mayers, p.
Seven Worthies of the an association of con-
Bamboo-grove
vivial men of letters, circa A.D. 275, who were accustomed to
meet for learned discussions and relaxation in a
jovial grove
of bamboos." The same writer gives their names as follows:
" " "
P. 51 : Hiang Siu ; no particulars. P. 78 : Ki K'ang,
A.D. 223-262. A celebrated
functionary and man of letters,
but renowned as a lover of the and a
equally wine-cup
musician. He was at the same time an ardent devotee of the
study of alchemy, which he practised under a willow-tree. The
willow is referred to, in as sacred to
frequently consequence,
this pursuit. Incurring the displeasure of Sze-ma Chao, chief
minister of the last of the house of Wei, he was
sovereign
executed as a propagator of magic arts and heretical doctrines.
His coolness and contempt for death were manifest, as he
walked to the his his in
place of execution, by tuning guitar
his last moments." This no doubt is the figure we see seated
on the with a lute on his knees. P. 132 : " Liu
carpet Ling,
A.D. 265-280. One of the renowned fraternity of poets and
wine-bibbers. He in particular was wholly devoted to joviality,
and is to have uttered the wish that he ever
reported might
be followed by a grave-digger, so that he should be interred
without or when he should fall dead in his
delay ceremony
P. 181: "Shan T'ao, 206-285. A statesman under
cups."