Zitan Rosewood Box for the Jade Book of the Canon of Yao (S1992.77.2-.13)

Object Details

• Inscriptions

  The inscription on the box lid is the same as that on the title plaque (.2). Both read: Yu shu Yaodian 御書堯典 (Canon of Yao inscribed by the Emperor). The “Yao dian” (Canon of Yao) is an ancient Chinese text found in the Shujing 書經 (Classic of History).

  On plaque .13 the text is dated and signed 庚申仲春月, 御書 “middle spring month of the gengshen year [27 February–27 March 1740], written by the Emperor,” and accompanied by two seals of Hongli, the Qianlong emperor (1711–1799; reigned 1735–96):

  Huixin buyuan『會心不遠』(square intaglio)

  De chong fu『德充符』(square relief)

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Transfer from the National Museum of Natural History, Department of Minerology, Smithsonian Institution

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1920s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Wood, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers