A new chapter in the study of Chinese sculpture in the Sung Dynasty opened with the discovery of the Mai-chi-shan caves already referred to and the publication of a little-known sculptured cliff at Ta-tsu in Szechwan, dating chiefly from the Sung. The lively realism of the Ta-tsu high relief figures, some of which resemble the clay figures at Mai-chi-shan, others reminiscent of mediaeval European sculpture, is further proof that beside the courtly and scholarly arts for which the Sung is famous there flourished a vigorous school of popular Buddhist art of a very different character.]
In the olden time the currency, you know, was a l in gold and silver, joes, half-joes (Johannes), pistoles, moidores, doubloons, pistareens, ninepences (12+¹⁄₂ cents), and fourpence-half-pennies (6+¹⁄₄ cents) or “fippenny-bits.”
But all the rest, as borne of salvage brood, And having beene with acorns alwaies fed, 590 Can no whit savour this celestiall food, But with base thoughts are into blindnesse led, And kept from looking on the lightsome day: For whome I waile and weepe all that I may.
This obſervation is verified in our authoreſs, who, without deſign, without art, and without inſtruction is arrived at a wonderful perfection in the art of poetry, and may be placed amongſt poets of the firſt claſs.