Page 91 - Sotheby's Fine Chinese Art NYC September 2023

乾隆御寶和闐青玉《八徵耄念》璽

乾隆朝乃中國歷史上一代盛世。承康、雍二帝所開偉業，乾隆治 「初一曰五行、次二曰敬用五事、次三曰農用八政、次四協用五
下，社會、經濟、文化空前繁榮。乘藉大勢，此朝工藝製造水準 紀、次五曰建用皇極、次六曰乂用三德、次七曰明用稽疑、次八
亦登峰造極，於各方面顯見盛世氣象。皇帝寶璽尤與其他時期不 曰念用庶徵、次九曰嚮用五福，威用六極」。
同，其記事紀盛功能愈加明顯。乾隆一生波瀾壯闊，許多重要時
乾隆認為箕子所陳洪範九疇是「萬世帝王制治之源……無一不關
刻於他本人意義深遠，如乾隆四十五年（1780年）七十萬壽、乾
於為君者之一身一心」，而九疇中第八「念用庶徵」與乾隆當時
隆四十九年（1784年）喜得玄孫五世同堂、乾隆五十五年（1790
所想不謀而合，於是擬定「八徵耄念」四字。有關為何選用「八
年）八十萬壽、乾隆六十年（1795年）頤養歸政等。每逢此類時
徵耄念」，乾隆在《八徵耄念之寶記》中解釋如下：
刻，乾隆必精心綢繆，留下大量文獻、遺珍，可供後世追述。此
中，乾隆所留寶璽無疑值得矚目，其生平故事乃至時刻當下所生 「思有所以副八旬開袠之慶，鐫諸璽，以殿諸御筆，蓋莫若《洪
Fig. 1 An Imperial spinach-green jade ‘Bazheng Maonian’
seal from the estate of Emile Guimet, Qing dynasty, 心境，皆凝結在此。紐約蘇富比即將呈現一方「八徵耄念」寶 範》「八徵」之念。且予夙立願八十有五，滿乾隆六十之數，即
Qianlong period, sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8th October 璽，便是紀念乾隆八旬萬壽所製。印面4.6公分見方，陰刻「八 當歸政。今雖八十，逮歸政之歲尚有六年。一日未息肩，萬民恆
2008, lot 2005 (part lot) 徵耄念」四字。 在懷。庶徵之八，可不念乎？念庶徵即所以念萬民。《曲禮》：
圖一 清乾隆 乾隆帝御寶蹲龍鈕碧玉「八徵耄念」方璽，愛米 八十曰耄，老而智衰之謂。茲逮八十，幸賴天佑，身體康強，一
爾·吉美舊藏，售於香港蘇富比2008年10月8日，編號2005 乾隆五十五年（1790年）之於乾隆帝意義非凡，既是在位五十五
(其一） 年，又是在世八十壽辰。依乾隆慣例，每當紀年逢五，即所謂「 日萬機，未形智衰，不可不自勉也」。
正壽」之年，則大行慶祝；紀元五十五年恰逢八十整壽，實與天 可見，「八徵耄念」四字既是紀念八十萬壽，也是戒勉自身。
地之數自然會合，乃昊蒼眷佑，尤需大慶特慶。因此，早在乾隆 而後數月，「八徵耄念」成為乾隆君臣間話題，且與乾隆八旬萬
(Treasure of concern over phenomenon at eighty). As to why Year’s tea party in 1790 Concern over phenomenon at eighty 五十四年（1789年）中秋，乾隆便已開始籌劃御殿受賀之地點、
壽密不可分，所受矚目之深乃至乾隆五十五年新歲茶宴上乾隆與
he chose to use this phrase for a seal, the Emperor himself became a topic in the couplet contest among the Emperor, 規模、各地及蕃屬國萬壽貢品等諸事宜，製作相應寶璽亦在重要 廷臣及翰林聯句亦以「八徵耄念」為題。乾隆自己也屢次提及「
offers this explanation in Bazheng maonian zhi bao ji (Notes court officers, and academians of the Hanlin Academy. 事項之列。 八徵耄念」製璽情況：
on Treasure of Concern Over Phenomenon at Eighty Seal): The Qianlong Emperor himself repeatedly referred to the 乾隆帝逢十萬壽製作寶璽以為紀念乃有例可循。康熙五十九年
circumstances surrounding the manufacture of the seal: （1720年），康熙帝臨近在位六十年及七十聖壽，欲製一通用小 「予因來歲八旬正壽，鐫八徵耄念之寶，冬仲即已鐫成，於立春
When I think of the purpose of having an eightieth-birthday 吉日遂行鈐用」。 「予於上年長至月，因開歲壽躋八袠，思複
璽，命內廷翰臣擬文，然皆不稱意，於是自定「戒之在得」四
celebration, engraving a seal, and impressing it on imperial Having attained a full eighty years of age, I had a seal 鐫璽以資鈐用，宜莫若洪范八徵之念，命選和闐良玉，刻為八徵
字，刻成小璽數方。乾隆四十五年（1780年）七十聖壽之際便已
documents, no phrase is more suited than the ‘concern about engraved with the inscription ‘Concern over phenomenon 耄念之寶。蓋予仰荷天庥，康強猶昔，而勤政愛民，固不敢一日
沿襲康熙做法，引杜甫句刻「古稀天子之寶」和「猶日孜孜」二
signs’ phrase, number 8, in the ‘Great Plan’ chapter of the at eighty.’ It was finished in the middle of winter, and I used 璽，紀念七十聖壽之餘亦表明不敢怠政。又經十年，乾隆自當重 不自勉也」。
Book of History. Moreover, I have already indicated a desire it during the festival marking the beginning of spring. Last 循舊制，再製寶璽。 乾隆於五十四年擬定寶文後便開始大量製璽。據清宮《內務府造
to pass on the throne at eighty-five, the sixtieth year of my year in the month of the summer solstice, since I attained my 辦處活計檔》載，乾隆五十四年至乾隆六十年間，「八徵耄念」
是次，乾隆著眼《尚書・洪範篇》。《尚書・洪範篇》有載，武
reign. Though I am now eighty, there are still six years till I eighth decade, I thought of making a seal. For an inscription, 王克商後，向箕子請教天道之義，箕子便以洪範九疇相告；洪范 之璽製作未曾間斷。
retire from the throne. I have not rested my weary shoulders the most suitable was ‘Concern over various phenomenon,’ 九疇所指如下： 細看此璽形制、玉質、刻法及龍鈕形態，可比一《八徵髦念之
for one day and have always cherished the people. How can I number 8, in the ‘Great Plan’ chapter. I commanded that the 寶》璽作例，甚為相近，吉美舊藏，售於香港蘇富比2008年10月
not be concerned about number 8, the various signs? Being artisans use green jade from Hetian and engrave ‘concern 8日，編號2005（圖一）。
concerned about the various phenomenon is being concerned over phenomenon at eighty’ Since I look to Heaven for
about the people. The first ‘Quli’ chapter of the Book of Rites protection, am as healthy as in the past, am diligent in
says, ‘Eighty is called mao,’ referring to the fact that the mind government, and love the people, I dare not pass a single day
becomes feeble with advanced age. I am now eighty and, without exhorting myself to do better.’
relying on Heaven’s protection, am still in good health. Though
After the Qianlong Emperor settled on this inscription in
in one day there are a thousand affairs of state, my mind is 1789, he began to make a considerable number of such
still up to the task, but I must exhort myself to do better.
seals. According to records of the archive of the workshop
One can thus say that this seal not only commemorates the of the Imperial Household Department, the Emperor
Emperor’s eightieth birthday but is also a warning not to let continued to make Concern over phenomenon at eighty
his guard down. seals from 1789 to 1795.

In the next few months, the series of seals became a topic The form, stone quality and style of carving, including
of conversation between the Emperor and his officers and the specific posture and articulation of the dragon, very
became closely associated with the Emperor’s eightieth closely matches that on the Bazheng maonian zhibao seal
birthday. It became such a focus of attention that at the New from the Guimet collection, sold in our Hong Kong rooms,
8th October 2008, lot 2005 (fig.1).
178 SOTHEBY’S COMPLETE CATALOGUING AVAILABLE AT SOTHEBYS.COM/N11275 179