. The word hua (lit. flowers) is used in the general sense of "ornament." The attempts of certain translators to confine it to the literal sense "flowers" has led to ridiculous results.
[195] An early eighteenth–century work, quoted in the T´ao lu, bk. ix., fol. 11.
[196] See T´ao shuo, bk., ii., fol. 7.
[197] Bk. vii., fol. 23.
[198] The Memoir of Chiang (see p. 159), written in the Yüan dynasty, says that the "pure white ware of Ching–tê Chên in the Sung dynasty, when compared with the red porcelain (hung tz´ŭ) of Chên–ting and the Lung–ch´üan green ware, emulated these in beauty." Chên–ting is the Chên–ting Fu, the prefectural town of Ting Chou, and the ware indicated is no doubt Ting ware; but here the comparison clearly seems to be between white wares, and unless the word hung (red) applies to some variety of the Ting biscuit as distinct from the glaze, it is difficult to understand.
tzŭ, "purple or dark red brown," is, like most Chinese colour–words, a somewhat elastic term. The dictionary gives instances in which it is applied to "red sandal wood," "brown sugar," the ruby, the violet, and the peony.
[200] Op. cit., fig. 35.