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THE QIANLONG EMPEROR’S

BAZHENG MAONIAN SEAL

he Qianlong period (1736-1795) of the Qing dynasty a multipurpose seal, and he ordered his Inner Court scholar-
is widely recognized as a prosperous age. As a result officials (graduates of the Hanlin Academy) to compose an
T of developments during the Kangxi (1662-1722) and appropriate phrase, but since none of their phrases were to
Yongzheng (1723-1735) periods, Chinese society, economy, his liking, he himself came up with the phrase Jie zhi zai de ([In
and culture achieved unprecedented prosperity during old age] beware of complacency; a quote from the Analects)
the Qianlong period. Along with these developments, the and had several small seals carved. In 1780 the Qianlong
production of works of art achieved a high standard and in Emperor, for his seventieth birthday, followed the Kangxi
many ways displayed an atmosphere of grace associated Emperor’s practice and had two seals carved with the phrases
with this age of peace and prosperity. Seal making, in Guxi tianzi zhi bao (Seal of the seventy-year-old Emperor; an
particular, developed features peculiar to the age, namely, allusion to a poem by Du Fu [712-770]) and Youri zizi (‘Still
a tendency to record important events and note successes. diligent every day’), thereby commemorating his seventieth
The Qianlong Emperor experienced many personal birthday and at the same time expressing the thought that
milestones, such as his seventieth birthday in 1780, the birth he dare not be lax in governing. For his eightieth birthday, it
of a great-great-grandson in 1784, his eightieth birthday in was inevitable that the Qianlong Emperor would follow this
1790, and his retirement from the throne in 1795. For each established practice and have an appropriate seal carved.
of these events, the Qianlong Emperor seems invariably to On this occasion, it so happened that the Emperor’s eyes
have made meticulous arrangements, and he left behind alighted on the Hongfan [Great Plan] chapter of the Shangshu
many documents and artifacts for later generations to [Classic of History, sixth century BC]. In this chapter, after
investigate. Among these documents and artifacts, the King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang dynasty, he asked Jizi to
Qianlong Emperor’s seals are, without doubt, worthy of great expound on the Way of Heaven, and Jizi responded to him by
attention. To commemorate his coming eightieth birthday telling him the nine categories of the Great Plan:
in 1790, he made a series of seals including the present
Bazheng maonian seal. The first is called the five elements. Second is called reverent
attention to the five personal matters. The third is called
1790 was an important year for the Qianlong Emperor. This
assiduous application to the eight objects of government. The
year was not only the fifty-fifth year of his reign, but also his fourth is called coordinated use of the five dividers of time.
eightieth birthday. According to the Emperor’s own practice,
The fifth is called the establishment and practice of the great
every fifth birthday was a milestone year and the occasion mean. The sixth is called discriminating application of the three
for a great celebration. In the Emperor’s mind, the auspicious
virtues. The seventh is called intelligent use of divination to
circumstance of the fifty-fifth year of his reign, corresponding decide doubts. The eighth is called concern about the various
to the year of his eightieth birthday, called for an especially
signs [of good and bad government]. The ninth is called the
grand celebration. Hence, in mid-autumn of 1789, the hortatory meting out of the five sources of happiness and the
Qianlong Emperor began preparations, including those for the awing administration of the six modes of suffering.
palace where he would receive congratulations, the scale of
the celebrations, and the return gifts to provinces and vassal The Qianlong Emperor held that the nine categories
states presenting tribute. Creating a seal appropriate to the expounded by Jizi were the principles of government from
occasion was an important part of these preparations. time immemorial, and that all of them were worthy of the
ruler’s devotion body and soul. And number 8, concern
There was historical precedent for the imperial commission
about the various phenomenon, agreed with the Qianlong
of a seal commemorating an important birthday. In 1720 Emperor’s thinking at the time, and thus appears to have
the Kangxi Emperor, approaching his sixtieth year on the
provided the inspiration for the inscription Bazheng maonian
throne and his seventieth birthday, had the idea of creating
176 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11275 177