Page 264 - J. P Morgan Collection of Chinese Art and Porcelain

CASE XXIIll THE MORGAN COLLECTION

562. A SEATED FIGURE OF KUAN-TI, the offi-

cial god of war, decorated with enamels of the san ts'ai,

or "three colored," palette, with certain portions left en

biscuit, revealing the grayish texture of the parts. The

"three colors" are green, yellow and manganese pur-
ple of aubergine tint. The divinity is distinguished by

his martial attitude, by the shape of the helmet with

side pieces, and by the jade-studded girdle round his
waist. The tortoise and serpent intertwined at his

foot represent the hsuan wu, or "sombre warrow"

which is the northern quadrant of the uranoscope and

figures moreover as a symbol of military prowess.

K'ang-hsi (i 662-1 722). Height loX inches.

563. CRICKET CELL. This curious rectangular

case, with its pierced open-work sides and open front,
is probably intended to hold fighting crickets, which
would be shut in by bamboo screen wired to the posts
through the holes drilled through for the purpose. The
crickets would be kept in the lower compartment and
when required to fight would be dropped in by pairs
through the hole in the roof of the cage and fight out
their battle on the horizontal platform below. The side

posts are inscribed with a moral couplet reading:

In the third watch light the fire, the fifth watch is cockcrow.

And this in truth is the proper time for a boy to get up.

The sides of the cage are artistically painted outside
with sprays of lotus in bright enamel colors of the

K'ang-hsi palette.

K'ang-hsi (1662-1722).

Height 6^4 inches. Width 4 inches.

564. FIGURE OF CHUNG-LI CH'UAN, one of

the eight Immortals, seated. His robe is a patchwork

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