Page 307 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

PAINTED IN COLOURS OVER THE GLAZE. 181

to match, and carved wood stand Chinese.
pedestal ; Height,
including stand, 19£ inches ; height of pedestal, G\ inches."
Davis, vol. i. p. 215 : " The principal arms of the cavalry
are bows and arrows ; the bow being of elastic wood and horn
combined, with a string of silk strongly twisted and wrought.
The strength of their bows is estimated by the weight required
from to a
to bend them, varying eighty pounds hundredweight.
The string, in shooting, is held behind an agate, or stone ring,
on the right thumb, the first joint of which is bent forward and
confined by the middle joint of the forefinger being pressed
upon it."
351 " Those who desire to for the
Doolittle, p. : compete
first are to themselves before
military degree required present
the district of the district where
magistrate they properly
belong at the time he appoints. The preliminaries are very
similar to those already described for other graduates, but at
the first examination before the district magistrate they are
exercised in the practice of archery standing. They are
examined in regard to their proficiency in shooting at a mark,
each one three arrows. At the second examination
shooting
before this official they are exercised in the practice of archery
on horseback. In like manner are to shoot
they required
three arrows at a mark, but while the horse is running. At
the third examination they are all exercised with large swords,
and with heavy stones, and with stiff bows."
"
the names of the five classes of the
Mayers, p. 317, gives
art of archer v."
The tablets on the pedestal are slabs of celadon, while the
four joo-e heads at bottom will be noticed. The green bands
on these pieces bring them into the famille verte class.
No. 309. Yase. Height, 18 inches. No mark. Covered
with green speckle-work, on which are thrown in various
coloured enamels, flowers, and butterflies. The latter, it will
be noticed, are made to take the of a of
shape pair peaches,
that fruit, like the butterfly, being symbolical of matrimony.
This groundwork is broken by two large and four small
reserves on the body, and two small medallions on the neck.
These are marked off by green and red bands. The ornament
at the top of the big reserves, it will be noticed, takes the form
of a bat with joo-e shaped wings, emblematic of long life and
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