A RARE IMPERIAL SUTRA JADE BOOK WITH ORIGINAL BOX AND COVER QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

comprising four rectangular white jade plaques of translucent pale celadon tone, the wood front cover with the sutra title Fo shuo xian zhe wu fu de jing ('Five Virtues of Righteous Men, Sutra Divulged by the Buddha') picked-out in gold, the jade plaques delicately and precisely incised and gilded with text in kaishu from the sutra, the first page incised with the title surrounded by the bajixiang ('Eight Buddhist Emblems'), and the last page with one hundred shou characters, all mounted in a bright yellow brocade frame, fitted in its original folding hard-board brocade box, and with a zitan box and cover inlaid in silver-wire with the sutra title within a key-fret border

Comte de Semallé Collection, France, late 19th century.

Maurice Paléologue, L'Art Chinois, Paris, 1887, p. 170.
'Deux livrets de jade de la collection du comte de Semallé,' Art Chinois, Bulletin de l'Association amicable franco-chinoise, vol. 3, no. 2, April 1911, p. 175-176.

It is quite rare to find a jade book with its original brocade box and zitan box. All three parts are in very good condition. The book retains almost all the original gilding to the characters. The silver on the front and back leaf are also well preserved. The binding is in very good condition. The brocade cover has some light wear to the white paper-edged borders, but is in otherwise very good condition, retaining even the original green-stained clasps. The zitan box retains all of the silver-wire inlay and is also in very good condition.
"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 expertise of the craftsmen working during the Qianlong period is evident in this outstanding labour-intensive piece. With each plaque measuring only approximately 2mm thick, a masterful level of proficiency with the medium was required due to its extreme fragility. Craftsmen working on such books had to be extremely careful not to apply too much pressure to avoid breaking the precious material.

Despite the long history of jade books throughout Chinese history, only a small number have survived. During his reign the Qianlong emperor initiated a revival in jade book-making which also served the purpose of increasing the supply of raw material. Under his rule the number of jade books increased significantly, with the majority of books containing the emperor's poems and writings. Books containing Buddhist scriptures were also produced, such as the present piece, and often combined text with drawings.

With the pacification of the Hui people in Xinjiang during the Qianlong emperor's reign, jade workshops were able to secure good quality stone from Hetian and thereby satisfy his wish for jade artefacts. Jade books were made under imperial orders by artisans working in the Palace Workshop belonging to the Neiwufu, in the jade workshops of Suzhou, or in the jade workshops belonging to the Huai and Changlu Salt Administrations, as well as offered as tribute items to the emperor.

The Five Virtues of Buddhism, loving kindness and compassion, right means of livelihood, sensual restraint, right speech and mindfulness or self-control, are part of both lay Buddhist initiation and regular lay Buddhist devotional practices. In undertaking the five virtues, the Buddha taught that the follower gives freedom from danger, animosity, and oppression to a limitless number of beings, thus gaining a share in these areas of freedom themselves.