WARES OF "SUNG" DYNASTY
Ju-yao and the Ting-yao: they copied ancient bronzes. Throughout the whole of the Sung period the same type of shapes and decoration is found. A better choice could scarcely have been made, for the forms of many of the old bronzes are eminently graceful, and their decorative designs show much wealth of fancy.
The number of specimens of Kuan-yao produced at the original factory (Peng-liang) was probably not large, inasmuch as the manufacture continued for twenty years only (1107-1126). Those twenty years, too, were in great part occupied by a struggle between the Chinese and the Tartars. The policy of the Sung emperors had been essentially one of peace: under their rule the empire attained a high state of civilization at the expense of its martial prowess. Unable to make head against the valour of the invading Tartars, the Sung ruler decided, in 1127, to move his capital from Kai-fêng-fu to Hang-chou. Simultaneously with this event, which is generally termed the passing of the Sung to the south, the potteries at Peng-liang appear to have been closed, and in their stead a factory was opened within the precincts of the yamen occupied by the Mayor of the Imperial Palace in Hang-Chou. The ware produced there was called sometimes Nei-yao, or "ware of the palace," but more general Kuan-yoa, or "Imperial ware." In all its essential features it closely resembled the original Kuan-yao, described above.
Ten specimens of Sung Kuan-yao are depicted in the illustrated Catalogue of H'siang. They are all céladons, their colours ranging through "pale green," light green," "onion green," and bluish green." One only is not crackled.
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