Page 16 - Sotheby's Qianlong Calligraphy Oct. 3, 2018

DE RI XIN
VIRTUE RENEWED EVERY DAY

GUO FUXIANG

This imperial jewel is carved from a tianhuang dong stone (‘the only treasure is virtue’) and Qianlong yubi (‘Qianlong’s
from Shoushan in Fujian province, and is carved in an ovoid imperial brush’, fig. 1) seals and most often chopped on to his
form with three chilong. lts seal inscription is composed of the own imperial calligraphy and paintings and used as the leading
three-character phrase de ri xin (‘Virtue renewed every day’). seal (at the opening of colophons, fig. 2).
The phrase de ri xin is derived from Shangshu [The Book of The stone from which this seal was carved has an excellent
History] where it is written: ‘De ri xin, wan bang wei hai. Zhi texture and its temperature and moisture are very agreeable.
zi man, jiu zhi nai li.’ The meaning of this is that a gentleman The colour of the body has a lustre and shine in its bright
should diligently build his moral character, and should daily yellow, and the top section contains a chilong of a slight tinge
progress and improve anew. The three characters carved of white, which is why we know that this stone is in fact cut
on the Qianlong Emperor’s seal thus sum up this phrase. from a precious Shoushan Mountain yin guo jin (literally ‘gold
What is even more meaningful is that the Qianlong Emperor wrapped in silver’) tianhuang stone. This type of soapstone “is
used this three-character phrase as a name for one of his rarely seen and an outstanding type of tianhuang stone, which
private studies. In fact, these words were personally inscribed should be considered the most rare and precious of stones
onto a plaque and hung on the walls of the Jingshengzhai as it is the optimum combination of tianhuang and baitian
(Studio of Esteemed Excellence) within the Jianfugong stones,” according to Ye Weifu, Zhongguo yin shi [Chinese
(Palace of Established Happiness). But in 1923 (13th year stone seals]. Moreover, this seal is very large, and is amongst
of the Republic), when the Jianfugong was set aflame, the the largest tianhuang seals from the Qianlong period.
Jingshengzhai perished in the fires and the ‘de ri xin’ plaque
along with it. Thus the fact that this treasure has survived The three chilong that are carved atop this imperial seal
through these perils is very remarkable. seem to move naturally, the carved lines of their form are
flowing and smooth. Their dense fur and manes flutter with
According to the Shiqu baoji [The Precious Collection of the ease without becoming disordered, and their bones and
Stone Canal Pavilion], a written record of the paintings and musculature are carved realistically and in great detail. The
calligraphies of the Qing court, the earliest record of this seal three animals turn around and playfully clamber to get close
on a work of art dates back to the 8th year of the Qianlong to one another, looking around, their faces display their
reign (in accordance with 1743) thus dating the seal to before enjoyment. All these characteristics are features associated
1743 and within the early Qianlong period. This seal was often with typical workmanship of Shoushan craftsmen during the
used together with the Qianlong Emperor’s suo bao wei xian Qianlong period.

14 SOTHEBY’S 蘇富比