This beautiful vase measured, in height, four Chinese inches and sixtenths; its ears, one inch in height, and one inch one-tenth in breadth. Its internal depth was two inches and eight-tenths. Its circumference, at the mouth, three inches and eight-tenths, and round the centre five inches two-tenths. It contained rather more than an English pint, and

weighed nearly two pounds. The inscription is the ancient form of

66

子

Tsze, a son." One authority affirms, that Tsze was a surname during the Shang dynasty; and hence often found on vases of this period. Another states, that it implied that the vase was to be handed down from son to son, and from grandson to grandson. Though its exact age is not known, it is concluded, from the form of the engraved character, to be anterior to the Chow dynasty, which closed 1705 years B.C. The Heaou-teen ornament, or Egyptian scroll, as it is termed by Europeans, which has been explained under Vase II., is carried round only two-thirds of the vase, leaving a third for the inscription. This vase has more relief than any other of this dynasty.

V.

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A golden vase, that measured seven Chinese inches and eight-tenths in height its ears, one inch in height, and one inch eight-tenths in breadth its internal depth, four inches and nine-tenths: its circumference at the mouth, seven inches and six-tenths; round the middle, eight inches and two tenths. It contained about two quarts. It weighed

癸

nine Chinese pounds and twelve ounces, and had the ancient form of Kwei engraved on it, which is one of the astronomical characters.

When the part which Kwei describes approaches the

Chow division

of the heavens, the fruits of the earth have arrived at maturity. This and the preceding vase are supposed to have been used when worshipping at the family altars, on account of a plentiful season of the fruits of the earth.

成湯

It is conjectured that it was made for, or by order of CHING-TANG, the founder of this dynasty, who reigned 1743 years B. C. In a work called Taou-këen-luh, it is said that one KING-KEA, during the Hea dynasty, which is anterior to the Shang, sent a person to the Newtow-shan, “ Iron mountain," to cast a sword, on which the character Keă, was struck. As this and the preceding vase, says another authority,

exhibit only a single character each, it is thought that they must belong to the Hea or Shang dynasties, doubtless not to the Chow, which succeeded them. Hence their age cannot be less than 3500 years, about the time when the patriarch JOSEPH was born.

During the reign of CHING-TANG, there was drought for seven years, at the close of which the historian records, that the prince repaired to the sacred mulberry-grove, where, after praying, he thus publicly interrogated himself:-"Have I (the emperor) incautiously brought calamity on the people? Have I deprived my people of their rights? Have I squandered the revenue on my palaces? Have I added to the number of concubines? in consequence of being emperor. Have I viewed my subjects as though they were the grass of the field? or have I given place to sycophants?" It is stated, that before his majesty had concluded this examination of himself, a heavy rain fell over a great part of the country. Hence it is conjectured, that a new vase was made to commemorate the

event.

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This vase measured in height five Chinese inches and five-tenths: its ears were one inch and two-tenths in height, and in breadth one inch

and three-tenths. Its internal depth was three inches and six-tenths. Its circumference, at the mouth, five inches and two-tenths; round the centre, five inches and five-tenths. It weighed three Chinese pounds and seven ounces. The inscription is written, by the moderns, "hair," is here understood to mean

乙毛 Yin-maou. Maou ₺

herbage. The work Tso-chuen says it is synonymous with

薦 Tseen,

herbage generally; and that as all ponds, rivulets, and streams produce one or more of the vegetables Pin, Fan, Wan, and Tsaou, which are eaten by persons of every class, such were proper for offering to one's ancestors. Hence this vase is supposed to have contained an offering made of the Maou vegetable, which on the vase is written .

Tsaou

“vegetables," which forms the top of the preceding charac

ter, was understood to express what the vase contained.

The emperor TAE-TING, we have seen, had a son called

YĬн. It is conjectured that this vase was given by him. The relief is

called 蟬紋 Shen wăn.

Shen is an insect of the Gryllus spe

cies; and the relief of the centre of the vase represents the wings of the insect, enriched with what we term the Egyptian scroll. This insect makes a great noise in the fifth moon, when the Le-che fruit is ripe. The relief about the neck is Haou-teen," voracious feeding.” The

饕餮

writer observes, that this relief was intended as an admonition against gluttony, or eating to excess, when sacrificing to their ancestors. Thus, continues he, whatever we obtain from the ancients, whether devices or inscriptions, they have all a significant meaning.

VII.

This beautiful vase measured, in height, five Chinese inches and ninetenths; its ears one inch and two-tenths, and in breadth one inch: its internal depth, three inches and two-tenths. In front, at the top, it measured five inches and nine-tenths: in breadth, at the top, three inches and one-tenth; at the bottom, in front, five inches; in depth, three inches and eight-tenths. It was capable of containing about an English quart. It weighed four Chinese pounds and twelve ounces. It had four feet,

with the above inscription. The characters within the square are 召

Chaou-foo, supposed to be the name of a person; but, as it is not found in standard works, it is not known to whom it alludes. The other characters signify the day and month when made. The last character but one is not understood. There is another vase, with the same inscription, which is also considered to belong to the Shang dynasty.

VIII