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feel all his long-held expectations were realized and that chuntai yuanmeiquan (The realm embraces the spring
his life was complete. Because of this, the Emperor eagerly and accomplishes my visions)’, a verse in a poem he had
looked forwarded to retiring and bequeathing the throne composed thirty years ago (1762) titled Feng Ze Yuan, as the
and on occasion revealed such anticipation. For example, he frontispiece seal, which accurately conveyed his aspiration.
wrote: ‘I reckon that after next year it will be 1796, when I plan Admittedly, the combination of seal inscriptions in this group
to retire and pass on the throne. I find myself still agile in spirit reflects the Qianlong Emperor’s visions for himself to achieve
and hope to be granted my long-held wish. If this is possible, a consummate life and for the people to live and work in
I will indeed be a completely fulfilled person [shiquan zhi contentment; at the same time, they served as a retrospect
ren]. With Heaven’s favor, I will be the first emperor to be so and remembrance of his eminent accomplishments.
blessed.’ For this reason, on the twenty-eighth day, ninth To sum up, three connotations in the present Shiquan Laoren
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month and sixtieth year of Qianlong (1795), while preparing seal can be interpreted: firstly, it encapsulates the Qianlong
for the imperial succession ceremony, he instructed the Emperor’s historical achievements in expanding the empire;
Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, ‘after I retire, secondly, it epitomizes the Emperor’s wishes for himself as
make a seal that reads Taishang Huangdi Zhi Bao (Seal of the a ruler; lastly, it embodies his wish for his people to live and
Emperor Emeritus) with the number one xi (happiness) jade work in contentment. Another seal in the group, Taishang
seal, and make a jade album inscribed with Shiquan Laoren Huangdi, implies that the current seal was probably made
Zhi Bao Shuo as the Emperor Emeritus’s treasured keepsake after Qianlong passed the throne on to Jiaqing and became
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to show forth the prosperity of this reign.’ The Emperor’s the Emperor Emeritus. The purpose of making this seal is
use of Shiquan Laoren Zhi Bao Shuo in a jade album to evidently to eulogize his lifelong attainments, which mirrors
symbolize his emeritus status shows the strong connection the Emperor’s mentality in his later years.
between the ultimate fulfilment [shiquan] in his mind and
him being the Emperor Emeritus. Also, for this reason, after The seal is carved from Khotan white jade. The finial is
the imperial succession ceremony in the first year of the rendered as a crouching dragon supported on four brawny
Jiaqing reign (1796), the Qianlong Emperor Emeritus could limbs, with its chest and head held high and its eyes glaring
finally announce, ‘on the first day of this year, I conferred forward. Carved in the round with techniques such as
the imperial seal and retired from ruling, becoming the first openwork, the dragon appears ferocious and formidable. This
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completely fulfilled person of all time.’ And again, ‘on the first kind of dragon knobs, popular in the late Qianlong and the
day of this year before the full court, I conferred the imperial early Jiaqing periods, emanates an imposing aura without
seal and assumed the title of Emperor Emeritus, fortunately elaborate details, displaying the prowess of imperial artisans.
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becoming a completely fulfilled person of all time.’ In
1 Guo Fuxiang, Ming Qing Di Hou Bao Xi / Imperial seals of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Beijing,
Qianlong’s mind, attaining the ultimate fulfilment is the result 2003, p. 153-154.
2 Qing Gaozong Yuzhishi Wuji / Poetry of the Qianlong Emperor, Collection 5, vol. 76.
of satisfying numerous conditions, and so is it the truest 3 ‘Shiquan Ji (Note on the Ten Accomplishments)’, Qing Gaozong Yuzhiwen Sanji / Prose of the
expression of his lifetime glory. Qianlong Emperor, Collection 3, vol. 8.
4 Qing Gaozong Yuzhishi Wuji / Poetry of the Qianlong Emperor, Collection 5, vol. 76.
5 ‘Shiquan Laoren Zhi Bao Shuo (An Explanation of the Seal of the Elder with Ten
Upon his own ultimate fulfilment, as the ruler of his empire, Accomplishments)’, Qing Gaozong Yuzhiwen Sanji / Prose of the Qianlong Emperor, Collection
Qianlong wished that all his people shared the same 3, vol. 4.
6 Qing Gaozong Yuzhishi Wuji / Poetry of the Qianlong Emperor, Collection 5, vol. 87.
enjoyment of peace and prosperity, as alluded to by his verse 7 Qinggui (1735-1816) et al., eds., Guochao Gongshi Xubian / [Qianlong] Court History, Second
Series, vol. 7, Beijing, 1994.
‘the realm embracing the spring’. Such idea was incorporated 8 Qing Gaozong Yuzhiwen Yuji / Prose of the Qianlong Emperor, Miscellany, vol. 2.
into the making of the seal group by using ‘Wanguo 9 Qing Gaozong Yuzhishi Yuji / Poetry of the Qianlong Emperor, Miscellany, vol. 7.
10 ‘Feng Ze Yuan’, Qing Gaozong Yuzhishi Sanji / Poetry of the Qianlong Emperor, Collection 3,
vol. 7.

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