Page 136 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

CHINESE PORCELAIN.
104
wheat-stalks, is taken to the house, and either put in a flower-
vase before the tablets of the ancestors of the family, or laid
before thern on a table."
Bamboo. — Franks, p. 245 : " Chuh is another emblem (of
longevity), owing probably to its durability. Its elegant
form causes it frequently to be depicted on works of art,
both in China and
Japan."
" "
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 276 : The common yellow
extends over all the southern and eastern but
species provinces,
the varieties mentioned by Chinese writers amount to sixty."
The of is turned to the Chinese are
variety purposes it by
endless. Among others the roots are cut into fantastic shapes,
"
or turned into oval sticks, for worshippers to divine whether
the will hear or refuse their . The Chinese
gods petitions. . .
verily believe it brings forth its seeds in years of famine, to
the deficiencies of other
supply crops."
The bamboo is the resort of scholars.
grove
Prunus or Plum Tree (Me/) (see Nos. 234, 247, 248, 249,
— 245 not
270). Franks, p. : "Though properly an emblem of
longevity, it is indirectly connected with it, as the philosopher
Lao Tsze, the founder of the Taoist sect, is said to have been
born under a plum tree. It forms the decoration of the porce-
"
lain termed ' ' hawthorn
erroneously may flower,' or pattern.'
" "
Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 283 : At new year in Canton,
the budding steins of the flowering almond, narcissus, plum,
peach, and the Eukianthus reticulatus, or bell-flower, are forced
into blossom to exhibit, as indicating good luck the coining
year."
151 "
Mayers, p. : Mei, the plum. Equally prized for its fruit
and its blossoms. The and of the latter
fragrance snowy purity
have been celebrated in numberless verses."
In addition to the above may be mentioned, as often
on the —
depicted porcelain, following :
Willow.—" Middle Kingdom," vol. i. p. 280 : " The willow
is a favourite and common plant in all parts of China, and
grows to a great size ; they are seldom wanting from gardens
' "
and sides of watercourses No. Their
(see 370). leaves,
foliage, and habits afford many metaphors and illustrations
to and writers, much more use made of the tree
poets being
in this way, it might almost be said, than any other."