Book

Tablet

79-23-1G

From: China | Beijing | Taimiao | Temple of Ancestors

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Object Number 79-23-1G
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China | Beijing | Taimiao | Temple of Ancestors
Period Early Qing Dynasty
Date Made 12/21/1648
Section Asian
Materials Nephrite | Silk | Gold | Lapis Lazuli | Gold Thread
Technique Carved | Woven | Brocaded
Iconography Imperial Edict | Dragon | Pearl
Inscription Language Chinese Language | Manchu Script
Description

One page in book made of ten green nephrite slabs which are pierced and strung together with gold cord. Cover of yellow silk with gold brocade cloud design with symbols sewn to fit tablets. Edict written in 1648 in which Emperor Fu-lin confers a posthumous honorary title of Empress on his great-great-great-grandmother, a Manchurian tribeswoman. End panels form the covers of the book each with incised pair of dragons and a flaming pearl. Incised lines of dragons and script with gold dust in incisions and proper names filled in with lapis lazuli. Written in both Chinese and Manchu Running Script, beginning at opposite ends and ending at center. Interleaving pads and wrappings assigned suffixes K-R.

Height 29.5 cm
Width 13.6 cm
Depth 1.3 cm
Credit Line Gift of Smedley D. Butler, Jr., Thomas R. Butler, Edith M. P. Wehle and Philippa Wehle Chill, 1979
Other Number L-230-1 - Other Number | L-870-1 - Other Number

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