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- were the most common designs, then came landscapes and scenes of family life. Every brush stroke is clearly defined. Underglaze blue was one of the best mediums for painted designs on ceramics, for just like the black ink of the classical Chinese monochrome paintings, it could be applied in graded washes over slight outlines giving a remarkable feeling of depth and a sense of colour [ i -6,
8-10, 13-16, i]. Many of these painted ceramics have received just as much worthy admiration as literati paintings done on scrolls. For much of Kangxi�s reign, blue and white porcelain remained the largest export item, but enamelled wares, growing in popularity, finally ousted it from this position.
During the early part of Kangxi�s reign, the technique of combining underglaze cobalt-blue and copper-red originated by Ming potters, was once again skilfully mastered [7, 11, 12,11] and even carried one step farther when areas of celadon glaze were added to the blue and red painted designs giving a most pleasing and harmonious combination (for an example of this technique see Yongzheng vase, no. iv). Another similar innovation of the time was the combination of underglaze copper decorations under a Longquan celadon glaze [39].
In general, the reign mark of Kangxi is seldom placed on the base of porcelains of this period. It had been restricted by an imperial order between 1667 and 1670. In its place there was either no mark or simply an emblematic design. Sometimes out of respect for the past, the reign title of a celebrated Ming reign period such as Xuande, Chenghua or Jiajing, would be placed on the base [xviii, 7, 11]. However, near the end of Kangxi�s reign, his reign mark began to appear more often.
Yongzheng was a very able and ambitious man, and may have even murdered his father to get the throne. His reign has often been branded as cruel. However, many of his measures were beneficial to the empire. The reorganization of finances brought a higher income to the state; laws were enforced and corruption was checked to some degree; and power was effectively centralized in the hands of
Yongzheng Period (1728-35)
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