Page 52 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

288 KANG-HE.

TSING DYNASTY.

THE first emperor, Shun-che, ascended the throne in 1644,
but, unfortunately, little or nothing is known of the ceramics of
this The mark does not seem to be met with, and if we
period.
have any specimens we probably class them as Ming pieces ; but,
as was long of being restored, and the country remained in
peace
a disturbed state this it is
very during reign, very doubtful if
at least of fine was made in
porcelain, quality, any quantity.

KANG-HE, 1661-1722.
THIS remarkable man perhaps the most able ruler China ever
had when old succeeded to the throne of his
only eight years
father. He remained under
guardians till fourteen, when, young
as he was, he saw the did not understand the art of
regents
and the reins into his own hands, ruled
governing, taking
with consummate skill until the day of his death, December 20,
1722.
Endued with natural active of mind and
great ability, body,
nothing escaped his notice, and he interested himself in every-
A a keen he was at the same
thing. great general, sportsman,
time given to learning, science and the arts, while to aid in his
studies he gladly availed himself of the assistance of the Jesuit
fathers, between whom and the Chinese literary class he had great
in the The fathers record how
difficulty keeping peace. worthy
on one occasion he, with his own hands, drafted the
petition
they were to send in setting forth their grievances. The Tribunal
of Rites, however, decided the missionaries, and
against Kang-he
had to invent other constitutional methods of extricating his
friends from their troubles.
King-te-chin prospered greatly during his reign, and marked
strides were made both in the manufacture of porcelain and its
decoration. Used as it was in large quantities in the palace, it no
doubt thrust itself his attention. But to the
early upon coming
throne at the he did, we cannot think he at once took the
age up