Page 107 - J. P Morgan Collection of Chinese Art and Porcelain

OF CHINESE PORCELAINS [CASE D

vase. The panels reserved in the floral grounds are

filled with figures from Taoist mythology and literary
history, which are enumerated in order in the inscription
of verse in the three upper panels. The panels give
pictures of Tung-Fang So riding the clouds, carrying on
his shoulder the branch of peaches which he has stolen

from the tree of life in paradise; Li T'ai-po, the cele-

brated poet, reclining beside his wine jar; the scholar

watching a pair of butterflies; the woodman of Chinese

story; besides pictures of ladies, playing boys with
symbols, storks and pines, flowers and birds, a land-

scape with the usual two aged pilgrims, etc. The low-

est six panels contain the eight genii {Pa Hsien), ar-

ranged so as to be framed in niches formed by the open
sides of the pedestal. The inscriptions have fanciful

seals attached, of which Shan (the hills are everlast-

ing) is one.

K'ang-hsi (1662-1722). Height 30 inches.

(plate xix)

3. TALL CYLINDRICAL VASE with short neck

and spreading lip. The battle scene painted on this

Amagnificent K'ang-hsi vase is difficult to identify.

walled city is being assaulted and defended by a sortie
of armed horsemen, directed by a generalissimo of

three armies who is standing with his staff on the city
wall with a state umbrella held over his head. The

attacking force is under the command of a magician
riding on a lion, who is conjuring a flock of birds from

the blazon of his shield, and has tigers and gigantic
wolves under his command, and a savage brandishing
two clubs, but who, in spite of this motley array, is be-
ing driven back by the imperial troops. The shoul-
der of the vase is decorated with a brocaded band in-

terrupted by panels filled with birds and flowers.
The neck is painted with Taoist genii crossing the

cosmic sea on whelk and tortoise, among whom Liu