Inscription

"Respectfully made by the jade works of the palace work bureau, on an auspicious day in the twelfth month of the winter, in the third year of Hsuan-Ho of the Imperial Sung (Dynasty)" (1121 A.D.). On the front and back of the knife are engraved, in minute characters with double contour lines, eight complete poems entitled "Miscellaneous Thoughts" by T'ao Yuan-Ming (365-427 A.D.), one of the greatest early poets of China. Here are two examples: The bright sun sinks beyond the western ridge, The white moon rises behind the eastern range. Afar, afar a myriad miles it flashes, Immeasurably vast its light amidst the sky. A wind comes and enters the bedroom door, So in the night pillow-and mat are cold. The air seems different- - I awake to the season's change. I cannot go to sleep and know the night's eternity, I wish to speak but there is no friend to talk to. Raising my cup I challenge my lonely shadow. The days and months fling us aside and pass; We have high purposes but cannot realize them. Thinking of this I have grief and pain at heart, And all night long can find no quietness. It is hard to dwell long in prosperity; Rise and decline cannot be reckoned on. What were formerly lotus buds in May, Now in the autumn are but withered seed-pods. A heavy frost stiffens the prairie grasses- - They wilt despondently and do not quickly die.- The sun and moon come ever circling back. Once we depart we do not shine again. I ponder deeply on times long past and gone Though to remember them tears my very entrails.