Page 208 - Chinese Art, Vol II By Stephen W. Bushell
P. 208
43 CHINESli Aia\
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T'uNG Chih (I 862- 1 874). KuANG Hsu. 1875 (reigning emperor).
Cyclical Dates.
In the first of the four figured below (Ch'eng Hua, first year)
and the last (T'ung Chih, twelfth year), the cyclical date is added to
the regnal year. The second, which occurs on early famille rose
pieces, indicates the recurrence of the cyclical date under K'ang Hsii,
who reigned over si.xty years. The third is doubtful, in that the
number of the cycle is omitted. The present cycle, which began
in 1864, is reckoned the 76th in the Chinese official scheme of chron-
ology, and the porcelain with this mark was referred to the 74th
cycle from its style and decoration.
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