ta chiao (great sacrifice), and
t´an yung (altar use), which were written beneath them; all indicating the offerings and the altars for which the cups were destined.
Dedications to temples, institutions, and even to individuals, often of considerable length, also occur not infrequently.
(b) Marks of felicitation include good wishes such as ch´ang ming fu kuei (long life, riches and honour), wan fu yu t´ung (may infinite happiness embrace all your affairs), both of which have been noted on Ming porcelain; words of good omen such as fu, lu, shou, separately or together,
chi (good luck),
ch´ing (prosperity), etc.
(c) Marks of commendation are also frequent, especially in the K´ang Hsi period and on blue and white porcelain. They allude to the beauty of the ware, comparing it with jade or gold or gems, or to the subject of the decoration; and they vary in length from a single character such as