Chaos caused by wars at the end of the Ching dynasty, and a prevailing lack of knowledge about the value of art, resulted in many valuable Chinese ceramics finding their way overseas, either through plunder or sale at bargain prices. As a result, the Chinese lost a considerable part of one of their most priceless heritages.

Today, however, as standards of living in the Republic of China have improved, the flow is being reversed. Many people in Taiwan are interested in collecting antiques, and have laid out large sums of money to bring these valuable ceramics "back home." Of those engaged in such purchases, perhaps the Hong Kong-based "Chiou Chih Society" is the most outstanding. Apart from being well-organized and systematic, the Chiou Chih Society has enriched its contribution to Chinese culture by opening up its collections to the public.

At the end of last year, the society chose 163 representative pieces from its collection of more than 2,000 to show in an exhibition of Chinese porcelain at the Hong kong Chinese University. So impressive was the display that many observers said it should go on tour. After obtaining approval from the club membership, Chiou Chih's president, Hsieh Chao-pang, chose the Republic of China for the site of the second exhibition, and flew all 163 pieces from Hong Kong to Taipei for a 42-day exhibition at the National Museum of History, starting April 20.

Hsieh made many trips back and forth between Taipei and Hong Kong to arrange the show. All members of the Chiou Chih Society agreed to contribute pieces from their personal collections. They hoped that after viewing the exhibition, people in Taiwan would become more interested in buying back pieces of art from overseas. "In this way, we will be able to compete with Japanese and American collectors in achieving distinction in the field," Hsieh said.

He explained that although he and his colleagues have been working together for more than 20 years, the society was only officially founded three years ago, with Yang Chiou-teh as its president, to search out and raise funds to buy antiques. At present, the society has 35 members, including lawyers, businessmen, doctors and artists, with ages ranging from under 30 to over 60. Each month, the society meets to discuss some aspect of Chinese art, and members bring pieces from their collections and listen to lectures delivered by invited specialists.

Students, many of them taking notes, featured prominently among visitors to the exhibition in Taipei. Whatever their subject, all agreed that the display had given them a clearer understanding of Chinese art and history.

After the Taipei exhibition ended May 30, Hsieh started negotiations with the Metropolitan Museum and St. Rowan's College in New York for the pieces to be shown in the United States. Only a few minor details remain to be worked out, after which the rare porcelains on display will win a following among a wider audience.

[Picture Caption]

1) A green ware water dropper from the Western Chin (left). A green ware ram from the Eastern Chin (right). 2) A white Te Hwa ware Kuan Yin. 3) A colored Ming Dynasty Cheng Hwa ware bowl. Cheng Hwa ware represents the high point of Chinese colored porcelain, and even though this piece is marred, its value is unaffected. 4) Ming Dynasty Lung Chin ware vase. This piece was taken to France by a soldier after the Boxer Rebellion. Four years ago it was bought back by the Chiou Chih Society. Worth US$1.2 million, it is the most valuable piece in the exhibition. 5) A piece of painted Sung Dynasty black ware.

1) Minister of Education Chu Hui-sen presenting an award to Hsieh Chao-pang for the contributions made by the Chiou Chih Society to Chinese culture. 2) A piece of Ming Dynasty green ware. 3) A Sung Dynasty pillow inscribed "Fortune and Virtue", with a chrysanthemum embossed on the side. 4) A Yuan Dynasty vase decorated with phoenix and peony motifs. 5) A Neolithic pitcher from Kansu. 6) A vase from the Kanghsi period (Ching Dynasty).

A Tang Tricolor plate with flying goose motif. The only other example of this kind of ware known to survive is in the British Museum.

A white Te Hwa ware Kuan Yin.

A colored Ming Dynasty Cheng Hwa ware bowl. Cheng Hwa ware represents the high point of Chinese colored porcelain, and even though this piece is marred, its value is unaffected.

Ming Dynasty Lung Chin ware vase. This piece was taken to France by a soldier after the Boxer Rebellion. Four years ago it was bought back by the Chiou Chih Society. Worth US$1.2 million, it is the most valuable piece in the exhibition.

A piece of painted Sung Dynasty black ware.

A piece of Ming Dynasty green ware.

A Sung Dynasty pillow inscribed "Fortune and Virtue", with a chrysanthemum embossed on the side.

Minister of Education Chu Hui-sen presenting an award to Hsieh Chao-pang for the contributions made by the Chiou Chih Society to Chinese culture.

A Yuan Dynasty vase decorated with phoenix and peony motifs.

A Neolithic pitcher from Kansu.

A vase from the Kanghsi period （Ching Dynasty）.

A Tang Tricolor plate with flying goose motif. The only other example of this kind of ware known to survive is in the British Museum.