From the inscription it is possible that at least two leaves of the book is missing. The text can be translated as 'to empty oneself of emotions, make order and all things will make sense. Take food, drink and get up with rhythm as this will cultivate ones sole. Another secret of cultivation is studying the classics and listening to the sages. Explore the principles of the classics, enjoy the beauty of the poetry. Carry its wisdom with you and you will win with your spiritual aspiration. When governing people you will avoid mistakes. Retreat with kindness, worship righteousness by taking a moral standard. Reflect constantly on these words of wisdom like a bright mirror'.

Cf. a very closely related eight-piece book illustrated in Homage to Heaven, Hommage to Earth, Chinese Treasure from the Royal Ontario Museum, pl.18, carved and gilt with the Prajnaparamita sutra, or 'Heart sutra' of Northern Buddhism.

Other jade books in famous collections have been published, cf. an example in the collection of the Forbidden City records, 'that in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of the Emperor Qianlong (1771) he honoured his mother, the Empress Dowager Chong Qing, with a laudatory title to celebrate her eightieth birthday", Wan Yu et al., Daily Life in the Forbidden City, 1988, no.19, where it is noted that according to Qing court regulations jade books and seals were presented to an empress, empress dowager or grand empress dowager, sometimes in lieu of gold book or seal, when she was appointed or honoured with a laudatory