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National Geographic : 1920 Nov
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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE PACKING PORCELAIN IN RICE STRAW TO BE SIIIPPED TO AMERICA The firm exporting the largest quantity of porcelain and pottery from Ching-teh-chen is a New York concern. Each piece is carefully packed by hand in rice straw before being packed in large boxes. capacity. We hear a good deal these days about the inability of Chinese to run their own business firms, but the success of this company, which received the grand prize for the best exhibition of porcelain at the Panama Pacific Inter national Exposition in 1915, seems to indicate that they have some business capacity. TIE IMPERIAL I'OTTERY'S LONG NOBLE HISTORY AND Among the four hundred male em ployees of this concern are one hundred formerly engaged by the Imperial Pot tery. In fact, with the downfall of the Ching Dynasty in 1911, the Kiangsi Porcelain Company took over practically the entire plant of the famous old fac tory. The Imperial Pottery had a long and noble history. It was established in the Sung Dynasty. which lasted from 960 to 1279 A. D. The emperor Chiu Tsung, who founded the dynasty, established the manufactory at Ching-teh-chen. and down through the centuries each succeeding emperor gave it his support and encour agement. It is reported that it was a part of Yuan Shih K'ai's imperial plans to reopen the pottery on his ascendancy to the throne. This is but one of the would-be emperor's dreams that was cut short by his sudden death. Although the empire no longer exists, porcelain is still used in large quantities by officials in Peking. It was my pleas ure on several occasions to meet at feasts President Isu I-si Chang's representa tive, who had been in Ching-teh-chen for several months purchasing special wares to be used as gifts in the capital. We visited the factory which filled his orders and saw there dozens of vases, in every stage of development, later to be pre sented to foreign ambassadors and Mon gol princes. NO UNEMPLOYMENT IN TItE PORCELAIN CITY There is no unemployment in Ching teh-chen. Work is plentiful, but indus trial conditions are bad. Long hours, poor food, no rest days, and unsanitary 404
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