Polychrome-enamel
Porcelain Bowl with "Five 
Relationships" Motif
Yung-cheng period (A.D. 
1723-1735)
Ch'ing Dynasty
Height:                  7.6cm
Depth:                   6.8cm
Mouth diameter:   16.2cm
Foot rim:                6.7cm
     Polychrome-enamel
porcelains of the Yung-
cheng and Ch'ien-lung 
periods are celebrated for 
their exceedingly fine 
workman ship and delicate 
ornamentation.  This kind 
of porcelain is also 
referred to as Ku-yueh 
Hsuan, or "Ancient Moon 
Terrace " ware. The five 
pairs of birds represented 
on this bowl -- phoenixes,  
cranes, mandarin ducks, 
magpies, and golden 
orioles -- symbolize the
five human relationships
of  the Confucian ethic:
emperor to his ministers,
father to son,  husband 
to wife,  elder brother 
to younger brother,  and
friend  to friend.   The
porcelain    body    is 
extremely   thin   and 
semi-translucent.