Page 43 - Chinese porcelains collected by Mr. and Mrs. Charles P. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio, by John Getz

HISTORICAL

It is clearly evident that some potters have practised their art quite

independently, or have established kilns that disappeared with them, and

of these we have no records whatever. This fact may m some measure

account for the many specimens now remaining unidentified.

Very little is chronicled or known about the ceramics produced under
Shun-che, the first Emperor of this Manchu Tartar dynasty, who ascended

the throne in 1644 and died in 1661.

The country remained in a rather disturbed state during his reign, and

it is therefore doubtful if porcelain was manufactured in any quantity, as

pieces so marked are exceedingly scarce. It is also probable that most of

the products bear Ming marks, and when without marks are possibly

classed under the former dynasty.

The Imperial factories at King-te-chen, which remained closed during
the last years of the Ming dynasty, were not reopened until the Manchu

sovereign had firmly seated himself upon the throne.

The Emperor K'ang-hsi, who reigned from 1662 to 1722, was perhaps

the most able ruler China ever possessed, succeeding to the throne of his

father when but eight years old. Within six years, when at the age of

fourteen, realizing that the regents did not understand the science of gov-

eming, he took the reins in his own hands, ruling with consummate skill

until his death in December, 1 722. This Emperor was endowed with

natural ability, activity of mind and body, and interested himself in every

Adepartment. keen sportsman and a great general, he was at the same

time given to leaming, and fostered the arts, availing himself also in his

studies of the assistance of French Jesuit missionaries in astronomy, mathe-

matics, and geometry, and on this account aided them often in their diffi-

culties with the Chinese literary classes.

The potteries in the tovsoi of King-te-chen (Ching-te-chen) prospered

greatly during his reign, marked strides were made in the manufacture and

decoration of porcelain, and some of the finest examples extant to-day,

here under our eyes, were produced toward the middle of his reign.

This Emperor selected the most suitable men not only for the various

government offices to diffuse education and to encourage art, but great

[xxvii]