Adviser to the President of Chine, Honorary Fellow of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and author of " Outlines of Chinese Art"
HE newly opened museum in the northern part of the old Palace from which the remnants of the Manchu Dynasty were expelled a year ago has brought to public attention the large number of national treasures which had been hidden away from all eyes except those of the Emperor and his entourage. Fortunately by the opening of the Palace these may now be seen. In a rude case in a badly lighted room I recently saw a row of Sung dynasty pottery, the like of which could not be equaled anywhere. There were a Chin Yao dish, a Kuan Yao cup, a Ting Yao plate, and best of all a Ko Yao vase thrilling in its appearance. There were also several examples of Lung-ch'dan and Tz'i-chow ware. Scattered around the room in other cases were beautiful examples of Ming dynasty porcelains. All of these had been stored away precious objects which needed careful preservation while porcelains made in the K'ang-hsi, Yung-cheng and Ch'ien-lung periods were scattered around the various living rooms where they were used or placed as ornaments. In another side room were exhibited various bronze objects with which I had been familiar in the illustrations of the Ning Shou Chien Ku (¥p@Rii) and Hsi Ch'ing Lis Chien Po ce) but which I never had the privilege of seeing. Among these the most conspicuous object was the bronze platter known as the San Shih Pan (#iie A) with its long inscription invaluable to students of the origin of the Chinese language. This bronze platter was only discovered during the taking of the inventory by the committee which has now the charge of the Palace. It had been rumored for many years that it had found ity way to Europe but if such a Platter ix to be found in Europe it is not the genuine one but is one like three or four imitations which were found with the original stored away in the Palace.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.