Page 65 - Sothebys HK Dragon Emperor April 2024

QIANLONG YUBI AND EARLY IMPERIAL SEAL PRODUCTION

GUO FUXIANG

In 1735, the Yongzheng Emperor passed away Qinxue haowen (‘Study diligently and love to Wanwu jingguan jie zide (‘Quietly contemplate And such slogans as Zhengyi mingdao (‘Make some reign title seals were made later, these
and his fourth son Hongli ascended the throne ask questions’); while a seal made of crystal the myriad things – all are self-fulfilled’) [Cheng friendships correct and the Dao bright’); Jujing were occasional manufactured replacements.
with the reign title of Qianlong. According to reads Cuncheng zhujing (‘Maintain sincerity Hao (1032-1085)]; cuncheng (‘Dwell in reverence and maintain The present large white jade seal is surmounted
court customs, each new emperor were to have and make reverence the chief goal’); and three Sishi jiaxing yu ren tong (‘The four seasons sincerity’); and Lixiu qizhi (‘Establish and by intertwining dragons and is carved with
his own imperial seals made for impressing soapstone seals reads Leshantang (Hall of auspiciously arise, together with mankind’) cultivate yourself with one heart and mind’); the inscription Qianlong yubi (‘In the Imperial
on calligraphies and paintings, signifying the Pleasure in Goodness), Yongyan peiming (‘May [Cheng Hao]; Buwei wuxian (‘Do not put yourself before Hand of Qianlong’). It can be considered as
emperor’s appreciation. Although seal face it ever be said that you live up to your destiny’) Xiongzhong changyang shifen chun (‘In your others’). Some of these seals continued to be one of the most significant seals of the early
inscriptions differed according to its purpose, and yuxiu juede (‘Continue and develop your breast always nourish a perfect springtime’) used after he became emperor. Qianlong reign, as exemplified by the following
they mostly contained the reign title of the predecessors’ virtue.’). [Qianlong]; According to the Neiwufu ge zuo cheng zuo exceptional features:
emperor to indicate the unique proprietary By the age of 13, during the Yongzheng era, Wenzhang you shen jiao you dao (‘Let writing huoji Qingdang [Archival records from the
nature of the item involved. When a new Hongli already had 70 seals made including: be numinous and friendships in accordance various Qing imperial household department The large size – height of 9 cm, width of 12.5
emperor succeeded the throne, seals used by with the Dao’) [Hu Yinglin (1551-1602)]; workshops] preserved in the China First cm is unequaled among all other Qianlong
the previous emperor were usually preserved Huang sizi zhang (‘Seal of the Emperor’s Fourth Zhonghua shengchu song qianchi (‘Where all Historical Archives, on the fifth day of the seals. The quality of the jade is particularly
as sacred objects. Son’) blossoms flourish a pine grows a thousand feet first month in the first year of Qianlong (16th warm and glossy; pure and very dense. Such
Hongli tushu (‘Seal of Hongli’) a large seal made of fine quality jade is rarely
Hongli was 25 years old when he ascended Baoqinwang bao (‘Treasure of the Precious high’) [Qianlong]; February 1736), leader Samuha reported that found among Qianlong seals. The design of
the throne and already very familiar with the Prince of the First Degree’) Dakuai jia wo yi wenzhang (‘Mother Nature eunuch Mao Tuan submitted a glass-inlaid zitan the intertwining dragons is very unusual. Their
production and usage of seals, having had Heshi Baoqinwang bao (‘Seal of the Imperial gave me the gift of writing’) [Li Bai (701-762)]; wood box (one side of the glass damaged), bodies are slender, yet are poised with energy
many seals crafted for himself. The earliest Precious Prince of the First Degree’) Jushui yue zai shou (‘Scoop up a handful of enclosing eight agate yinshou (‘leading’) and assertiveness. The scales along their
record known so far of the Qianlong Emperor Changchun jushi (‘Eternal Spring Recluse water, and the moon resides in your hand’) [Yu seals and ten other agate seals. The Qianlong backs are irregular in height, and the heads
having a seal made indicates that this occurred Scholar’) Liangshi (fl. ca. 800)]; Emperor ordered these 18 seals to be inscribed are slightly raised and looks straight ahead.
in the second year of the Yongzheng reign Danshu shi suyuan (‘To be crazy about books is with the reign title and made into six sets. In style, it corresponds to the Manchu script
(1724). On the 12th April that year, the eunuch Additionally, there were seals inscribed with predestined’) [Qianlong]; These six sets, comprising a total of 18 seals, golden seals, which are national seals, inscribed fig. 1. Related entries in the Qing court archives, dated to
the 1st year of the Qianlong period (1735)
chief supervisor Zhang Qiling sent six Si Age studio names such as Leshantang, Sui’anshi Deju yin xinyi (‘A successful line depends on a were presented on the 23rd day of the sixth with Fengtian zhi bao (‘Seal of Receiving
(‘Fourth Elder Brother’) seals to the Imperial (Follow Contentment Studio); Zhilanshi (Iris and new idea’) [Yuan dynasty monk-poet Daoyuan, month by Samuha (fig. 1). This is the earliest Heaven’s Mandate’) and Tianzi zhi bao (‘Seal 圖一 乾隆元年（1735年）《清宮內務府造辦處活計
Household Workshops to be engraved, Orchid Studio); and Yizhai (Studio of Restraint). but Qianlong used this line several times in his record of Qianlong having his seals made after of the Son of Heaven’) housed in the Forbidden 檔》中相關記錄
permitting the craftsmen to carve the seal faces Seal inscriptions could also be excerpts from own poetry]; ascending the throne. In the following years, the City in Beijing and the Kangxi yubi zhi bao
with facsimiles of the inscriptions sent over poetry and prose such as: Weiyan xi xianhao (‘Subtle wording makes the Qianlong Emperor continuously issued edicts to (‘In the Imperial Hand of Kangxi’) seal, which
with the seals. Among these, one seal reads smallest detail clear’) [Qianlong] have seals made, sometimes as many as 24 at was auctioned in Beijing in 2003. All these
once. On the fourth day of the first month in the seals are of the typical early Qing intertwined
third year, storehouse supervisor Liu Shanjiu dragon style. The seal base seems somewhat
came to report that the eunuchs Mao Tuan and low. Qianlong had the carver remove the
Hu Shijie handed in bronze seals with the order original inscription and had the face engraved
to “Engrave on them the following: Qianlong anew with the four characters Qianlong Yubi.
yulan zhi bao (‘Seal for the Appreciation of His This practice is quite unusual, particularly
Majesty Qianlong’). By order of His Majesty”. in the early reign of a new emperor. Special
On the 10th day, this inscription in seal script functions are involved. Seals inscribed with Yubi
was carved on the faces of two seals, one (‘Imperial Hand of His Majesty’) or Yulan (‘For
in intaglio and one in relief. Liu Shanjiu then the Appreciation of His Majesty’) were made for
delivered them to the eunuch Mao Tuan for specific purposes. The size of the seal depends
inspection, and the order was issued: “The one on the artwork on which the seal is impressed.
in intaglio script is approved. By order of His If well matched, they will enhance each other.
Majesty.” On the 20th day of the second month, This large imperial seal must have been made
Liu Shanjiu and foreman Bai Shixiu handed in for impressions to suit large works of art.
the bronze seal with the finished inscription Moreover, in the early part of the Qianlong
to the eunuchs Hu Shijie and Gao Yu.’ (fig. 2). reign, many large bian’e (horizontal inscribed
The seal made of bronze and 9.2 cm in width, name tablets) were made and which were often
is recorded in the Qianlong baosou. By the third changed in the inner court pleasure gardens.
year of Qianlong, most of the seals containing It is thus possible that this large seal was also
his reign title were completed, and although made for such bian’e. fig. 2. Related entries in the Qing court archives, dated to
the 3rd year of the Qianlong period (1737)
圖二 乾隆三年（1737年）《清宮內務府造辦處活計檔》
中相關記錄