Page 36 - Nov 28 Chinese Art Hong Kong

The jade boulder is carved with the characters: and approved by the emperor. When Prince Yunli died in 1738, the
Qianlong Emperor ordered an additional memorial ceremony and a
如南山之壽，以介景福。 posthumous name was given to honour his lifetime accomplishments.

Which may be translated as: The present jade boulder is exquisitely carved enabling the beholder to
first appreciate the luminous quality of the white jade stone highlighted
‘Resembling the longevity of Southern Mountain so thou will have against the contrast of the russet-toned deftly carved mountains. A
bright fortune.’ second look observes the graduated mountains geometrically yet
naturally carved. The eye is then free to roam the scene of the fluttering
The line is taken from the ancient Classic of Poetry, Shijing, part of the bats released from the box held by a boy ascending towards the cloud
Confucian Canon. The ‘Southern Mountain’ refers to the auspicious wisps emerging from the double gourd held by his companion amidst
mountain south of the ancient capital of Xian. the tranquil landscape. This scene may depict the Hehe Erxian, also
known as the Immortals of Harmony and Union. The bats represent
The jade is carved in an oval cartouche enclosing the two characters auspicious wishes and good fortune and therefore this scene would
Chunhe 春和 or ‘Peaceful Spring’. The seal indicates that the have been complemented by the carved poetry meant to bestow upon
inscription was composed by Prince Yunli 允禮 (originally named Yinli the owner good wishes and fortune.
胤禮 1697-1738), the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor. Prince
Yunli was a fine scholar and patron of the arts, and compiled an Very similar workmanship, particularly evident in the distinct sharp
anthology of his own poetry entitled Chunhe Tang Ji 春和堂集 or ‘The contours and manner of execution of the mountains, can be seen
Collected Works of the Master of Peaceful Spring Hall’. He was also on an Imperially-inscribed pale green and russet jade boulder, Qing
known as the Master of Chunhe 春和主人 whose studio names were dynasty, from the Qing Court Collection, illustrated in The Complete
also recorded as Chunhe Tang 春和堂 or Jingyuan Zhai 靜遠齋, see Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum: Jadeware II, Shanghai,
Qingren shiming biecheng zihao suoyin, (Guide to the Studio Names, 2008, no.52; compare also the jagged rockwork on the Qing Court
Alternate Names, Personal Names and Sobriquets of Qing painting from the Qing Court Collection in the Palace Museum, Beijing,
Era People), Shanghai, 2001, no.802. depicting the Yongzheng Emperor in various guises Yinzhen at Play:
Attacking a Tiger with a Trident, illustrated in Harmony and Integrity:
As the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor, Prince Yunli was The Yongzheng Emperor and His Times, Taipei, 2009, p.308, pl.II-111.
able to cultivate his passion for calligraphy, classical learning and See also the similar style of carving of the wutong leaves on a white
poetry - in which he excelled - since childhood. Modelling himself as and russet jade boulder, Qing dynasty, imperially inscribed by the
a traditional Chinese literatus, refined and well read, he was shrewd Qianlong Emperor, illustrated in Compendium of Collections in the
enough to distance himself from factional Court politics and struggles Palace Museum: Jade 8 Qing Dynasty, Beijing, 2010, no.120.
for succession to the Imperial throne. Yet despite his caution towards
politics, according to the official histories he rose high in the Qing The exceptional quality, imaginative design and technical virtuosity
government due to his honesty and diligence. achieved by the master carver exemplifies the zenith of jade
craftsmanship achieved by the jade ateliers during the Yongzheng or
In April 1723, when his elder half-brother Prince Yinzhen became the early Qianlong periods. This is made even more remarkable given the
Yongzheng Emperor, Prince Yunli was granted the title of Prince Guo of rarity of such extraordinary jade material, which only became more
the Second Rank 果郡王. In 1725 he was awarded a higher allowance available following the Qianlong Emperor’s conquest of the Dzungar
for his services and was promoted to Prince Guo of the First Rank 果親 Khanate, now known as Xinjiang, between 1755 and 1759. The rarity
王. In 1727 Prince Yunli was further appointed as the Grand Secretariat and jewel-like quality of the present jade boulder indicates it was
of the Households Department or Hubu, which oversaw household specially commissioned for an important occasion such as an Imperial
census and determined the associated taxation. In 1734, Prince birthday or ascent to the throne, making it likely that it was gifted by
Yunli who was known as a patron and scholar of Tibetan Buddhism Prince Yunli to the Yongzheng or Qianlong Emperors.
and the arts, escorted the Dalai Lama back to Tibet from his visit to
the Qing Court, inspecting military forces along the way. The strong For another work carved with mark of Chunhe see a pebble-shaped
personal relationship and trust between Prince Yunli and his brother the jade snuff bottle, illustrated by S.Sargent, ed., Franz Art: Chinese Art
Yongzheng Emperor was clearly demonstrated when the Yongzheng from the Hedda and Lutz Franz Collection – Jade, Hong Kong, 2010,
Emperor fell gravely ill; he entrusted Prince Yunli with raising and p.164; see also an Yixing teapot, 18th century, made for Yunli with
supporting the heir-apparent Prince Hongli, the future Qianlong Emperor. the studio mark of Jingyuan Zhai, illustrated in Purple Clay Wares:
The K.S. Lo Collection, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong
During the Qianlong Emperor’s reign, Prince Yunli was appointed to Kong, 2002, p.80, no.32. See also V.L.Uspensky, Prince Yunli (1697-
the Grand Council, the most influential policy-making body in the 1738): Manchu Statesman and Tibetan Buddhist, Tokyo, 1997; and for
Qing Empire, empowering and investing him with great authority. His his poetry anthology see Chun he tang shi ji 春和堂詩集 (The Collected
proposal to reduce taxation in the Jiangnan region was highly regarded Poems of the Master of Peaceful Spring Hall), Shanghai, 2009.

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