The Kangxi emperor had a very high opinion of his political responsibilities. He was the only intercessor between the heaven and the people. His Qing dynasty was of Manchu origin and he had to maintain his authority against the ethnic Chinese. He succeeded marvelously since his reign combined with those of his son and his grandson assured peace and prosperity in an unprecedented effectiveness during more than hundred years.
Seals were used to improve the documents with the deep thinking of the emperor himself, so constituting a method to express and spread the imperial mottos. The most important of their marks was the blessing thought Jingtian Qinmin : revere heaven and serve thy people. The emperor is not a despot. If he forgets his duty, he must be overthrown. Kangxi reigned during 61 years, from 1661 to 1722 of our calendar.
Kangxi used a single Jingtian Qinmin seal, maybe late in his life since no document from his reign has been identified with this mark. This is a large piece of sandalwood (tanxiangmu), 10 cm square surmounted by the sculpture of a mythical beast to a total height of 11 cm. This unique piece is for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 6, lot 3101.
The extreme importance of Kangxi's Jingtian Qinmin was demonstrated posthumously. A replica with the same inscription is made in jade in the very first year of the reign of Yongzheng with an entirely different finial. When many years later Qianlong established the Kangxi Baosou displaying all the marks used by his grandfather, it appeared in the first position.
SOLD for HK$ 93M including premium
I invite you to watch the very short video introducing this seal :
Seals were used to improve the documents with the deep thinking of the emperor himself, so constituting a method to express and spread the imperial mottos. The most important of their marks was the blessing thought Jingtian Qinmin : revere heaven and serve thy people. The emperor is not a despot. If he forgets his duty, he must be overthrown. Kangxi reigned during 61 years, from 1661 to 1722 of our calendar.
Kangxi used a single Jingtian Qinmin seal, maybe late in his life since no document from his reign has been identified with this mark. This is a large piece of sandalwood (tanxiangmu), 10 cm square surmounted by the sculpture of a mythical beast to a total height of 11 cm. This unique piece is for sale by Sotheby's in Hong Kong on April 6, lot 3101.
The extreme importance of Kangxi's Jingtian Qinmin was demonstrated posthumously. A replica with the same inscription is made in jade in the very first year of the reign of Yongzheng with an entirely different finial. When many years later Qianlong established the Kangxi Baosou displaying all the marks used by his grandfather, it appeared in the first position.
SOLD for HK$ 93M including premium
I invite you to watch the very short video introducing this seal :
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