Page 76 - J. P Morgan Collection of Chinese Art and Porcelain

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

T UNO CHIH KUANG HSU

(1862-1874) 1875 (reigning emperor)

h. 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 sec-
ond, which occurs on ea.r\y famille rose pieces, indicates

the recurrence of the cyclical date under K'ang-hsi,

who reigned over sixty years. The third is doubtful,
in that the number of the cycle is omitted. The pres-

ent cycle, which began in 1864, is reckoned the 76th in
the Chinese official scheme of chronology, and the
porcelain with this mark was referred to the 74th cycle
from its style and decoration.

n

X

^ ^ ^^ ^^
t %,K-:2-
Cyclical Year
Cyclical Year Cyclical Year Cyclical Year kuei yu
ping hsu
i-yu hsin ch'ou recurring (873)
('465)
(1721) (1766?)

—2. HALL MARKS

There are many varieties of hall marks in which

the characters fang (hall), chii (retreat), chat (pavil-
ion), and the like occur. They usually indicate the

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