work;"" by which we are to understand, drawings of fabulous animals, deities, monsters, and genii. History records that the superior of the state, Tse-nan, was presented with nine bells in tribute from another state; and that he commanded one of the ladies of his court forthwith to adorn them with golden flowers, which became a pattern to belts of this kind in future; and hence, perhaps, the origin of a sort of jingling sash worn by females at their marriage. To other specimens of girdles, given in different dynasties, are added ornamental appendages; as rings, precious stones, clasps for sashes and knots. Rings are of very ancient origin; we find them frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. When Pharaoh appointed Joseph to be the governor of the land of Egypt, he bestowed a ring upon him; doubtless in token of the official power with which he was invested, as well as of personal regard. A ring is the symbol of eternity with the Chinese, who say it has no beginning; and hence very naturally regard it as emblematical of dignity and authority. Two rings are especially worthy of regard : one perfect, the other defective; the former an emblem of the sovereign's favour, the latter, of his displeasure, as shown towards his public servants. In olden times, when officers who had been banished to the frontier for mal-administration, had completed the term of their sentence, the one or other of these rings was sent to them by the emperor: if it were the perfect one, it denoted that he was about to restore them to their official duties, despite their temporary disgrace, without detriment to character or emolument; but if the defective ring were sent, it was a token that the offender's connection with the government was forthwith dissolved. A similar practice seems to have obtained in Egypt, according to the well-known incident in Joseph's history, which was instrumental in raising him to his high station. I do not mean that a defective ring was sent by Pharaoh to the baker, and a whole one to the butler, though this is by no means improbable, from the honour then attached to that token; but that the practice of the two courts of China and Egypt in restoring officers to full honour, after what Europeans would consider an indelible brand of disgrace, was the same, and therefore it is reasonable to infer that formalities attending it were not dissimilar. For the figure of the defective ring, to which I have alluded, see the plate:* it is designated "the incomplete ring of the blue stone and fragrant herb of the Han dynasty;" a name derived from the materials of which it is composed, the herb which its form resembles, and the opening in it, which is represented at the bottom of the drawing. Various other rings are described as bearing the figures of different fairies, some of which were worn as female ornaments; but the complete and incomplete circles only are given as apt similitudes of power fully restored and finally withdrawn. A specimen is furnished of an ancient court bodkin used in arranging a lady's hair; it is described as silken white, without mixture or defect, ornamented with cloudy vapour, and as having concave and convex surfaces, of elegant workmanship, probably of the Shang or Chow dynasty. It is with such an appendage as this to the head-dress that the marriage ceremony of braiding the hair of a young lady is performed among the Tartars. * See Plate IX. Fig. 1. The same object is attained by knotting a sash worn by females; from which the phrase, "to knot the sash," has come to signify a marriage contract. Seals are used in China, as in other civilized countries, to give authority to official acts; the only specimens described in this author are those which represent the seals of the Tsin and Han dynasties; the first of which is styled "the imperial seal transmitted by Tsin." It is four inches square, and three inches and a half high. One side of it is ornamented with fairy writing, on the reverse are engraven in seal characters the words, "Received from Heaven the decree of long life and eternal splendour." The inventor of this seal was the first universal ruler of China, to whom we have elsewhere alluded as subjugating the whole empire, burying alive the literati, and building the great wall; who, whatever signets, sceptres, or other official ensigns, were previously in use, was also the author of that national instrument which has ever since been designated the great seal of the empire. There are three ancient forms; two of which bear the same inscription on the reverse although there is a slight difference in the figures on the obverse; the other differs a little in words, but not in sense; it is literally, "Heaven's decree: the imperial emperor long life and prosperity;" that is, the possession of the seal is a pledge of Heaven's approbation, which secures long life and eternal renown. The seals of the Han dynasty are of a circular shape. On one specimen there are the words "eternal renown" on one side, to correspond with the engraving of an imaginary animal on the other, which, it is said, knew the faithful, whom it spared, but gored the specious and insincere to |