ECTION FOR HONG
A CLUB MEMBER DISCUSSES CHINESE ARTIN BRONZE AND PORCELAIN
THERMOMETER OF CHINESE
CIVILISATION
THE earliest vessels in China took the form of -pottery, and started 5,000 years ago in Kiang- si province. At that time the brush was al- ready in use, and the many patterns produced from it were used for designs on pottery, with the result a highly developed kind of pattern on spoke for Itself the various kinds of potter.
of the crude-
In the beginning of the Ching dwindling rapidly, once again ness and coarseness of the dynasty (1644-1911) porcelain this was shown in the plain, conquerors.
suffered another setback, for rude designs of the porcelain. the ruling Manchus, like the
After this period came the .From these inscriptions we
In the Ming dynasty (1366 Mongolians, did not care much After the dynasty was ever- stone age where utensils carved learn much of Chinese politics, 1614) which followed, many of for porcelain, and consequently thrown and the Republic was from stones were introduced. and of the lives of ancient the finer qualities of porcelain
was established, conditions were still Chinese people.
were revived, but it also intro- the porcelain produced
dull and crude.
for the most part unsettled. It was in the Tang dynasty duced many of its own charac-
That is why porcelain during (618-907 A.D.) that porcelain teristics in brighter. bolder and
that time shoved poor taste and was first developed.
Later, however, the Ceramics more forceful designs.
emperor had by then become finer, and
Kang Hsi, after conquering all carelessness in quality and a new device,
desiga. of China, enjoyed much pros that of melting coloured
and perity, glaze in very
porcelain was temperature, which
developed to its highest degree. crude by modern was then used to be porcelain.
The discovery of bronze was quite a big event, for bronze- made of copper and tin-was a rare metal in China, and-like every other metal, was called 'gold,' and was considered just as precious.
•
INTERESTING
NOT MUCH high
There was not much refine- may seem standards ment and precision though, for Yet apart from its intrinsic
poured on Ming ceramic art emphasised Chien Lung, the next emperor, It is intéresting to see that worth, મ superstitious value
chiefly freedom and lively was
very poetic and artistic porcelain for the most part re- was attached to it that was, the
colours and designs. The 'blane himself, for he wrote poems and presents Chinese culture; more owner of bronze was considered
Later in the Sung dynasty de chine, a very
fine white collected antiques, so that so when this culture is seen, ha to be blessed by heaven, and ($60-1123) the highest quality kind of porcelain with the elaborate designs, extravagant its varying degrees of improve- therefore, was bound to be in porcelain was attained with smoothness of ivory, the red colours plus précise and de- ment and deterioration.. As prosperous and successful,
a variety of colours, shades, glaze blood of ox, the blue licate drawings were a great some - one ence remarked, and designs which gave porce- and white,' these were all dear stressed, with ornateness Chinese procelain wis the lain a certain dignity in art. famous creations of the Ming more emphasised by the use of thermometer" which indicated
Then, unfortunately, came the dynasty, Furthermore, mixed- gold and written poems on pots the degree of Chinese civilisa-** Wars were waged just for Yuan dynasty (1260-1368), the coloured porcelain, Bowery pat- and vases, possession of, bronze, as shown Mongolian conquerors, who terns, and other rich decora- in ancient Chinese history. were not in the least cultured. tions started in the Ming However, bronze served many The porcelain of this period" dynasty. practical purposes. Besides being prized as a - valuable, cooking utensils as well as vessels used for ancestor worship were made from it.
WARS WAGED
►
Bronze vessels were, more- over, used as ceremonial utensils and also often served as awards for loyal officials 'In court; these usually contained artistic designs and inscribed characters
to record some special event which, in most cases, were
historic.
The 17-21 Club's five rules
• Membership in the 17-21 Club is open to all within that age group.
• Contributions and all ac- tivities of the Club will be limited to members only.
In the last period of imperial rule, the Ching' dynasty was
tien.
-Credit Card to Linda C. Sun,-Kowloom.
WHO ASKED THEM?
ID you ever wake hands and hollering like a street who can remember a By this time you're wise to DID
up in the morning mother endeavoured to detach Incidentally that is what you mother to put off the next cne. feeling as though you'd his butterscotch been hit by a two-ton my hair: truck, with a hot aching head and sore throat?
factory whistle. while my friend who had died of the 'flu. these callers and tell your
A BOUT
lollipop from have what a coincidence. But then, how were you to Naturally, someone in your know that it was going to be class would suggest that they that dreamy fellow next door should visit you to 'cheer you whom you're been dying to up and end up sampling your meet ever since be moved into Next followed a bout with new nail polish, sympathetical- the neighbourhood, loaded with our cat which, having insisted ly informing you that the at a pile of latest movie That's exactly how I felt on inflicting himself upon my teacher (you happen when I woke one morning last stomach, was properly indignant to like her) had been replaced
actually magazines?
Credit Card to Antoinette'
J. Rozario, Kowloon. I stared at my haggard face in
week.
when I objected to this; and by a real tartar. clung on burr-like making
the bathroom mirror, stuck out himself almost as undetachable my three-inch tongue and as a butterscotch lollipop. scrutinised it mournfully, then
I returned to bed and acted sur- Then there is the sympathe- prised when my mother ex- tic aunt who insists she'd amuse claimed: "Good heavens! You you by reading to you a book do look sick," and groaned, you'd read twice before, "Oh dear, does that mean I'm bringing along practically her not to go to school?"
and
a
whole medicine cabinet, I actually felt genuinely sorry 'Talking about medicine [for my sisters who had just de- cabinets, have you ever seen parted in this horrid weather. ours? It has everything in it Boy! am I lucky-I thought. Except what you need. Tubes, I had not counted on the fact vials, bottles, tins and boxes, that some people actually do toothpaste covers, plaster, buttons feel it their obligation to visit that came off your shirt sick friends, when I propped couple of rusty razor blades- Contributions may consist myself up on some pillows to but where do you suppose the read-the morning paper, and aspirins went to? After con- of anything that
was utterly unprepared for the siderable rummaging-you dis- publishable articles,
first caller my 14-month-old cover that they ате On the letters, stories, photo-brother, who proceeded to dis- bureau where if you remember graphs, drawings, varses. play his newly acquired art of you had put them.
cheerful visitor is the But only the best will climbing, by clambering all over-
my bed with his butter-scotched spinster who lives across the be printed.
© All contributions, MUSŤ,
be original,
⚫ Written contributions should not consist "of more than 350 words, photographs and draw- ings will only be accept- ed in black-and-white,
MEMBERSHIP
Fill this in and send it to the China Mai); 13 Wyndham Street; Hongkong.
Name
Age Occupation Azidress
A
'SKY HOOKS, ONCE A WISTFUL DREAM, ARE A FAMOUS FOR RESCUES, THEY ARE GOING TO WORK IN CONSTRUCTION.
REALITY IN HELICOPTERS.
LITTLE ONES HAVE CARRIED CABLES ACROSS CANYONS AND HELPED TO PLACE ORNAMENTS CÁLCHURCH SPIRES.
A NEW BIG ONE IS BEING. BUILT BY SIKORSKY WHICH -
WILL LIFT AND CARRY SIX- TÓN LOADS. ABSENCE OF PASSENGER CABIN GIVES OPERÁTOR A GLEAR VIEW OF HIS WORK- ENABLES HIM TO PLACE STRUCTURĖS LIKE THIS TOWER ACCURATELY.
THE BIG FELLOW IS ÉXPECTED TO BE MOST USEFUL "OVER ROUGH COUNTRY WHERE THERE ARE NO ROADS ON WHICH TO HAUL MATERIALS.
My Fool's Paradise
A sweet and drowsy slumber grips my mind,
My spirit from my being does unbind, Flees to wonder in my fool's paradise,
To be completely deceived by surmise. Why wake when life offers little rest?":"
Though the turmoil is merely a mortal test I will not yield to abide in reality,
For the fool's bliss often lies in fantasy. While the silent breeze soothes my brow
Rustles the leaves and rocks the bough, While the pale musk-rate releases its fragrance, Away the thought of ceaseless forbearance! Let the nightingale chant its sad melody,
For my heart tends to the melancholy,
Let no illusion of grief arise
I will drink joy in my fool's paradise!.
· Credit Card to Maya Thakurdas, Kowloon,
Silter