Page 342 - Oriental Series Japan and China, Brinkly

CHINA

white monochromatic class, while another should be

included with ware decorated over the glaze. It is

the Tsu-chou-yao, so called from a place of the same

name originally included in the province of Honan but
now within the Southern boundaries of Pechili. The

ideograph tsu, used in writing the name of this place,

being identical in sound and shape with the ideograph
"
signifying some confusion has resulted.
porcelain,"

This point need not be elaborated. The Tsu-chou-yao

is undoubtedly one of the old-time wares of China.

There is no record of the exact date of its origin, but

the factory was certainly active during the Sung

dynasty, at which time, according to the Tao-lu, its

reputation stood so high that choice specimens com-

manded higher prices than even Ting-yao. They are

further said to have closely resembled the latter ware,

but from what is known of their pate it was heavier

and slightly coarser than that of the Ting chou prod-

uct. The glaze, too, was thinner and less lustrous,

but for the rest the two wares may have been easily

confounded in the palmy days of the Tsu chou pot-

ters. From the Ming dynasty downwards, however,

the Tsu-chou-yao deteriorated in quality of pate and

became more or less coarse stone-ware, degenerating

finally into faience of a common and unattractive

type. Collectors are very unlikely to meet with fine

examples of pure white Tsu-chou-yao. If any such

exist, they have ceased, apparently, to be identifiable.

The best known variety of the ware has decoration

over the glaze in pigment ranging from black to light

brown. The designs are always of archaic or con-

ventional character rudely traced floral scrolls,

Adragons, phoenixes, or mythical animals. special

interest attaches to the ware owing to the esteem in

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