Page 20 - Christie's London May 14, 2019 Dragon Throne For The Son Of Heaven

DRAGON THRONE FOR THE SON OF HEAVEN

Rosemary Scott, Senior International Academic Consultant, Asian Art

The primary decoration on this magnifcent the emperor. Nine representations of auspicious
carved three-colour lacquer throne depicts nine emblems were therefore often depicted on
fve-clawed dragons amongst clouds. The link decorative arts intended for the emperor – such
between dragons and Chinese emperors can be as nine peaches painted on a porcelain vase (fg.
traced to legends associated with emperors of 1). Even the large metal studs on the huge gates
early China. One of these relates to the legendary at the entrances to the Forbidden City were
frst emperor of China, known as the Yellow usually arranged in nine rows of nine studs – 81 in
Emperor (Huangdi) whose dates are usually given all. Nine and its multiples can frequently be seen
as 2697–2597 BC. Among the myths associated in palace architecture and furniture – such as the
with the Yellow Emperor it is stated that at his current throne. Nine is also an important number
death he was transformed into a dragon and for the attributes of dragons. A dragon was
ascended to Heaven. This and other legends believed to have 117 scales, of which 81 were male
contributed to the adoption of the dragon as the (9 x 9) and 36 were female (9 x 4). There were
symbol of imperial power – a symbolism which believed to be nine diferent forms of dragon,
spread to other parts of Asia. The dragon is also and the dragon was supposed to have nine
one of the four celestial animals, which represent children. Two of the most well-known examples
the four quarters – with the dragon representing of imperial decoration featuring nine dragons are
the east. the magnifcent ceramic nine-dragon screens,
such as that in the Forbidden City Beijing – built
The imperial title Son of Heaven (Tianzi) for the in 1771, and the famous Qing dynasty nine-dragon
Chinese Emperor also had its origins in antiquity - imperial robes (fg. 2).
as far back as the Zhou dynasty (c. 1046-256 BC)
- and was linked to the doctrine of the Mandate The dragons on the current throne are depicted
of Heaven. The Zhou rulers claimed that Heaven pursuing faming pearls amongst dense and Fig. 1: A famille rose `nine-peaches’ globular bottle vase,
Qianlong six-character seal mark and of the period
had withdrawn its mandate from the previous complex clouds, as is often the case on Chinese
(1736-1795), 50 cm. high, sold Christie’s Hong Kong, 29
Shang dynasty rulers (c. 1600-1046 BC), because imperial decorative arts. The clouds themselves April 2002, lot 568.
of their corruption and failures in government, are auspicious symbols, in part because they 圖1: 清乾隆粉彩九桃五蝠天球瓶，50公分高，
and had instead bestowed it on the Zhou, as provide a rebus for good fortune. It is also 香港佳士得2002年4月29日拍賣，拍品568號
being the most ft to rule. The Son of Heaven was signifcant that clouds, such as the examples on
seen as having the Mandate of Heaven to rule the this throne, are often shaped like lingzhi fungus
Empire - tianxia, literally ‘land under Heaven’, and of immortality, and so emphasise a wish for from which are suspended a qing chiming stone
having personal responsibility for the prosperity long life. Particularly in an imperial context, the and a pair of fsh. The fact of the bat being
and safety of his subjects. This responsibility for clouds also recall the shape of the head of a ruyi upside-down suggests the arrival of blessings
the welfare of their subjects is another reason sceptre, suggesting the hope for ‘everything as as the word for upside (dao ) is a pun for (dao )
for the link between emperors and dragons. In you wish it’. It is interesting to note that on this ‘arrive’ The qing chiming stone provides a rebus
China the dragon was a benefcent creature, throne the clouds have subtle green highlights. for congratulations or celebrations (qing ), while
associated with water and specifcally was seen Although the greatest proportion of the design the paired fsh are one of the Eight Buddhist
as the bringer of the rain, which was required to appears in carved red lacquer against a yellow Emblems, but in this context, they represent
water the crops and ensure a bountiful harvest. lacquer ground carved with lozenges, the majority abundance and in combination with the chiming
The dragon was believed to rise from beneath the of the clouds have small carved green lacquer stone suggest the wish jiqing youyu ‘May there
waves at the spring equinox in order to bring this extensions – either to the side or below the be a superabundance of auspicious happiness’.
essential rain. individual cloud forms. It should be noted that the symbols which would
have been seen by those permitted to enter the
On the current throne nine dragons are depicted. The nine dragons appear on the interior backrest emperor’s presence were the dragons of imperial
Nine was regarded as particularly auspicious and and sides of the throne. There are additional small power, while the more personal auspicious
was also the imperial number. Traditionally in dragons on the apron and in-turned horse hoof emblems were on the back of the throne and
China odd numbers were regarded as masculine shaped legs. On the exterior of the throne back would have been largely obscured from view even
while even numbers were regarded as feminine. bats are depicted amongst clouds. Bats provide a by those standing to the side of the emperor since
Nine was the highest single digit number and rebus for blessings – combining with the clouds a large throne screen would have been placed
was therefore regarded as the ultimate masculine representing good fortune. On the central panel behind the throne. Most of the minor bands on
number - thus symbolising the supreme power of of the back an upside-down bat holds a ribbon this throne are either flled with bats and clouds

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