AN IMPERIAL SPINACH-GREEN JADE SUTRA MOUNTED IN A BOOK

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AN IMPERIAL SPINACH-GREEN JADE SUTRA MOUNTED IN A BOOK
QIANLONG, DEDICATED BY YU MINZHONG

Comprising four plaques, the first and last engraved with a seated Guanyin and a Celestial Guardian respectively, the rest inscribed with the Prajnaparamitra Sutra, the opposite of each page contains a rubbing of itself, the translucent jade of pale spinach tone, all mounted on yellow silk, the board of hard wood, the cover contains a rectangular jade plaque inscribed with the title
5 7/8 x 4 in. (15 x 10.2 cm), box

Lot Essay

The sutra is followed by two seals, 'Servant' and 'Zhong'. Yu Minzhong became the Chief Grand Councilor in 1773, and the most powerful minister in the country. For a detailed account of his career, see Arthur Hummel, Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period, 1970, p. 942-944.

Another spinach-green jade book dated 1774 from this series is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, recording Buddhist text given to the Emperor Qianlong by the Panchan Lama of Tibet, the calligraphy was done by the Court official Liang Guozhi (1723-74).

(US$20,000-24,000)

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