Page 136 - Sothebys HK Dragon Emperor April 2024

The title Taishang Huangdi was first recorded in the Shi When he proclaimed that he was abdicating the throne to his
Ji (Records of the Historian) by Sima Qian (c.145-91 BC). son, he had already started to prepare himself for life as the
Taishang literally means ‘the most supreme’. The word Emperor Emeritus. On the 28th day of the ninth month of
huang signifies one whose virtue is even more supreme the sixtieth year of his reign (9th November 1796), Qianlong
than the emperor’s (di). Therefore, Taishang Huangdi refers issued the following edict:
to someone ‘whose virtue is even more supreme than the “After I have abdicated, I shall have the phrase taishang
emperor’s’. After the Han Emperor Gaozu ascended the huangdi zhi bao carved onto my best jade seal. Then
throne, he gave his father the title of Taishang Huangdi to immediately after that, I shall have the imperial edict Shiquan
show his great respect. Ever since then, emperors who Laoren zhi bao shuo engraved as a testament to the life of
abdicated the throne to the crown prince were thus called the Emperor Emeritus and the continuing prosperity of the
Taishang Huangdi. Throughout history, those who lived to dynasty while I am the Emperor Emeritus” (Guo chao gong
become Emperor Emeritus, in most cases, came to accept shi xu bian [Sequel of the imperial house and court history],
the title unwillingly by force. Qianlong was the only Taishang chapter Dianli yi [Ceremony, part 1]).
Huangdi who readily took this prestigious title and remained
well-respected and influential up to his death. Under Qianlong’s instructions, the carvers working in the
Palace made several Taishang Huangdi zhi bao seals, one
On the third day of the ninth month in the sixtieth year of of which is the present seal. The seal, carved from Khotan
Qianlong’s reign (15th October 1795), the eighty-five-year- (Xinjiang province) green jade of supreme quality and
old Emperor assembled his children, grandchildren, princes, even tone is surmounted by a pair of powerfully carved
nobles and high ministers and announced that he was dragons, with finely incised scales, horns, mane and beards.
abdicating from the throne and appointing his fifteenth son, Despite the hardness of the jade, the inscription was boldly
Yongyan, the heir to the throne and bestowing him the title carved with carefully controlled strokes and composition,
of the Jiaqing Emperor. He issued an edict and declared demonstrating the exquisite artistry and workmanship
that he would go to the Taihe Dian (Hall of Grand Harmony) practised in the Qing courts. Other Taishang Huangdi zhi bao
and personally turn over the imperial seals. He also declared green Khotan jade ‘dragon’ seals include the original one
himself Taishang Huangdi (‘Emperor Emeritus’) thus described in Qianlong’s edict, the largest imperial jade seal of
fulfilling his lifelong dream of completing his sixty years the Qing dynasty, in the Palace Museum, Beijing, and the one
as the Emperor and relinquishing power and crowning his sold in these rooms, 26th October 2003, lot 29. A Taishang
successor himself. He became the Qing dynasty’s only, and Huangdi circular white jade seal with an incised imperial
China’s last, Taishang huangdi. poem was sold in these rooms, 9th October 2007, lot 1301.

fig. 1. A drawing of Avalokiteshvara, Song dynasty, hanging scroll, ink on paper, Qing court collection, Palace Museum, Taipei, accession
no. Gu hua 000159
圖一 宋人 《白描大士像》軸 紙本水墨 清宮舊藏 台北故宮博物院 藏品編號：故畫000159
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