Possessing the Past

Possessing the Past

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 8065. Two gilt-inscribed leaves from a spinach-green jade book, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, dated to the gengxu year (corresponding to 1790) | 清乾隆庚戌年（1790年）　碧玉描金御筆《四得論》冊兩片　「八徵耄念」、「自彊不息」印.

Two gilt-inscribed leaves from a spinach-green jade book, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, dated to the gengxu year (corresponding to 1790) | 清乾隆庚戌年（1790年）　碧玉描金御筆《四得論》冊兩片　「八徵耄念」、「自彊不息」印

Estimate

1,200,000 - 4,000,000 HKD

Lot Details

Description

each 29 cm

Collection of Ann Stone Starke, California.

Sotheby's New York, 23rd March 2011, lot 705.

來源

Ann Stone Starke 收藏，加州

紐約蘇富比2011年3月23日，編號705


The inscription incised and gilt on the reverse of the two leaves is by the Qianlong emperor titled Si de lun ('The Four Achievements') and may be translated as follows:


Yesterday upon returning to the imperial estate from the Summer Palace, I realized that the remark in this piece concerning the Four Achievements was something I should feel ashamed of as I didn't consider such was my own achievement. Without properly illuminating the thesis after citing it, I hereby try to further develop my thought and discuss the core concept. What Zisi intends to express while alluding to Confucius' words is that one's status, wealth, fame, and longevity can be acquired only because his virtues have been upheld, and in so doing we know that he who possesses these virtuous merits surely deserves these [Four Achievements].


Composed by Qianlong Emperor, in the mid-autumn of the gengxu year (corresponding to 1790)

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