AN IMPERIAL SPINACH-GREEN JADE 'YOU RI ZI ZI' SEAL QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of square form, surmounted by a recumbent archaistic chilong resting on outstretched legs with her two cubs, one clambering up the pedestal and playfully biting the mother's tail, while the other lies recumbent with the head gazing up towards the left, the seal face boldly and crisply carved with the characters You ri zi zi ('Still Diligent Every Day'), the stone of a deep green tone mottled with black and pale green inclusions

Removed from the Shouhuangdian (Hall of Imperial Longevity), Beijing, 1900.
Acquired from S. Ballero, 91 rue de Miromesnil, Paris.

The overall condition is very good with only a few faint minute nicks to the edge of the seal face. The actual colour of the stone is very close to the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present seal is carved with the characters Youri zizi (Still Diligent Every Day).  It belongs to a set of three seals and is paired with Guxi tianzhi (Son of Heaven at Seventy).  It is a Yajiao zhang; it is used to make impressions at the right or left corner of a painting or piece of calligraphy.    

Emperor Qianlong was seventy years old in the forty-fifth year of his reign [1780].  According to historical records, "there appears to have been only six emperors who survived to live to over seventy since the three epochs of remote antiquity.  These are Emperor Wudi of the Han, Emperor Gaozu of the Liang, Emperor Minghuang of the Tang, Emperor Gaozong of the Song, Emperor Shizu (Qubilai) of the Yuan and Emperor Taizu of the Ming."  In Emperor Qianlong's view, the first four emperors were not worth emulating, and the remaining two, Emperor Shizu of the Yuan and Emperor Taizu of the Ming, although they were dynastic founders and made great contributions both nationally and personally, he could not help but feel regret that they "had no time to see to with rites, music, politics and law."  Emperor Qianlong considered himself to be the only truly wise and brilliant monarch in all of history who ruled when more than seventy years of age.  Therefore, he had a seal inscribed with the title Guxi tianzi (Son of Heaven at Seventy) for commemoration. 

While Guxi tianzhi zhibao was being made, Emperor Qianlong chose Youri zizi as the secondary seal.  He explained his intention in his essay Guxi shuo (On Being Seventy), "I am already seventy years old now, so I based the phrase guxi tianzi on a line in Du Fu's poetry and had it engraved on a seal face.  The second seal takes up where that one leaves off and reads Youri zizi (Still Diligent Every Day)."   My long cherished ambition is to yield government to my successor when I become eighty-six and nourish my aspirations in the Ningshou Gong (Palace of Tranquil Longevity).  But before I relinquish power, I dare not let my fear of heaven slacken and must continue to be "Still diligent every day" for by doing so, I repay heaven for its blessings and encourage myself to work hard."  Making Youri zizi the secondary seal of Guxi tianzhi zhibao is to demonstrate his state of mind and feeling, i.e. "encourage myself to take care to maintain my high aspirations from beginning to end, make utmost effort to reverence heaven, emulate the ways of my ancestors, or govern diligently and cherish my people".