Page:Brinkley - China - Volume 1.djvu/66

 used in the manufacture of the Lung-chuan-yao became red under the action of heat.

Dr. Hirth has collected from Chinese literature the following extracts having reference to the wares produced at Lung-chuan:—

1.—The Ko-yao of the Sung Dynasty.

The porcelain factories of Liu-t'ien at Lung-chuan were originally in the hands of two brothers, natives of Ch'u-chou, whose surname was Chang, the elder of whom was called Shêng-i (i.e., the first born), whereas the younger brother's name was Shêng-êrh (i.e., the second born). Each of the two brothers owned a factory, and the porcelain which came from the factory of the elder brother [in Chinese Ko] was called Ko-yao, or Elder Brother's Porcelain, to distinguish it from the produce of the other factory.

2.—The Ko-ku-yao-lun [ 1387] says of the old Koyao: 'Its colour is ch'ing-green of various shades, and it comprises porcelains which have "the iron foot and the red mouth," of which specimens having a good colour may be classed with Tung-yao, though there are few to be found at present.'

3.—The P'ai-shih-lei-p'ien says: 'When its paste is fine and thin, and the enamel pure and clear, this porcelain is highly valued. Ko-yao will then have short cracks which are called Pai-chi-sui.' (Lit. the crackle of the hundred dangers.)

4.—The Ch'un-feng-t'ang-sui-p'i says: 'Ko-yao is of a dead white and has short cracks.

5.—The Po-wu-yao-lan says: 'The characteristic feature of Kuan-yao consists in its having cracks underneath the glaze resembling the claws of a crab, that of Ko-yao in its having cracks like fish-spawn; with the difference that its enamel does not come up to that of Kuan-yao.' (The true significance of the "crab's claw" marks has been explained in the text.)

6.—The Wu-ts'a-tsu says: 'Apart from Ch'ai-yao, the