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Lot Essay
The text is a commentary on a period of Emperor Qianlong’s life when he had reached the age of eighty; and documented by the court official, Shen Chu, according to the last line in the text which reads: Chen Shen Chu Jingshu, ‘Respectfully written by (your) servant Shen Chu’. Shen Chu (1735-1799) is recorded as a scholar-official who served in the Qianlong reign, and during his life time he contributed to the cataloguing of Palace archives such as the Shiqu Baoji and Midian Zhulin.
The text elucidates Qianlong’s thoughts with many references to classical literature. A synopsis of its content expounds that when the Emperor had reached the age of seventy, a seal bearing the seal chop Guxi Tianzi zhibao, treasure of a seventy-year-old Emperor, was carved as well as another seal,Youri zizi, Daily Diligence. The latter was to remind the Emperor of his duties to the country; to seek Heaven’s protection in preventing natural adversities. As the Emperor attained certain achievements when he reached the age of eighty, another imperial seal with the title Bazheng Maonian Zhibao was carved to commemorate this milestone.
According to Emperor Qianlong, from the time of the Han dynasty only thirty-six emperors had enjoyed long life but only three had reached the age of eighty. Out of these select three, the only person that he respected was Yuanshizu, the first emperor of the Yuan Mongols (Khubilai Khan). However, Qianlong considered himself more fortunate in comparison as he had perpetuated generations of offsprings. With his love for the people and assiduousness in daily conducting of affairs of state, he had hoped that he had set an example for his sons and grandsons to follow. Qianlong had also hoped that if any of his descendants survived as septuagenarian or octogenarian, they will reflect the aspirations of this book and the Qing dynasty will continue for several millennia. This same text also appears incised on the exterior of a zitan box encasing two Qianlong white jade seals, Bazheng Maonian Zhibao, and Guxi Tianzi Zhibao, included in the exhibition, Qing Legacies: the Sumptuous Art of Imperial Packaging, Macau, 2000, and illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 86, no. 18. This set of seals and fitted box is illustrated again in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Jadeware III, Hong Kong, 1995, p. 223, no. 182. The commemoration text also appears inscribed on another zitan box accommodating two spinach-green jade seals, illustrated op. cit., National Palace Museum, 2002, p. 38, pl. I-20.
The text elucidates Qianlong’s thoughts with many references to classical literature. A synopsis of its content expounds that when the Emperor had reached the age of seventy, a seal bearing the seal chop Guxi Tianzi zhibao, treasure of a seventy-year-old Emperor, was carved as well as another seal,Youri zizi, Daily Diligence. The latter was to remind the Emperor of his duties to the country; to seek Heaven’s protection in preventing natural adversities. As the Emperor attained certain achievements when he reached the age of eighty, another imperial seal with the title Bazheng Maonian Zhibao was carved to commemorate this milestone.
According to Emperor Qianlong, from the time of the Han dynasty only thirty-six emperors had enjoyed long life but only three had reached the age of eighty. Out of these select three, the only person that he respected was Yuanshizu, the first emperor of the Yuan Mongols (Khubilai Khan). However, Qianlong considered himself more fortunate in comparison as he had perpetuated generations of offsprings. With his love for the people and assiduousness in daily conducting of affairs of state, he had hoped that he had set an example for his sons and grandsons to follow. Qianlong had also hoped that if any of his descendants survived as septuagenarian or octogenarian, they will reflect the aspirations of this book and the Qing dynasty will continue for several millennia. This same text also appears incised on the exterior of a zitan box encasing two Qianlong white jade seals, Bazheng Maonian Zhibao, and Guxi Tianzi Zhibao, included in the exhibition, Qing Legacies: the Sumptuous Art of Imperial Packaging, Macau, 2000, and illustrated in the Catalogue, p. 86, no. 18. This set of seals and fitted box is illustrated again in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, Jadeware III, Hong Kong, 1995, p. 223, no. 182. The commemoration text also appears inscribed on another zitan box accommodating two spinach-green jade seals, illustrated op. cit., National Palace Museum, 2002, p. 38, pl. I-20.