This Spring Sotheby’s Hong Kong is honoured to present the Most Important Chinese Historical Object ever to be offered at Auction. Bearing the inscription “Revere Heaven and Serve thy People”, the Seal of the Mandate of Heaven (Estimate upon request) is the largest and most powerful ever carved for the Kangxi Emperor, the greatest and longest reigning monarch of China. Two other important historic objects of the period will be offered to complement this extraordinary seal: the Yuanjianzhai seal, and one of only two existing copies of the personal record of the Kangxi Emperor’s seals, in which the exact impressions of both seals are recorded. All three lots will be offered in a dedicated themed sale titled Kangxi – Emperorship and Power on 6 April 2016 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.香港蘇富比即將於 4 月 6 日中國藝術品春拍期間隆重舉行「敬天勤民— 康熙御製珍寶」專拍,呈獻拍賣史上最具歷史價值之中國珍寶─康熙帝御寶「敬天勤民」檀香木異 獸鈕方璽(估價待詢),乃中國歷來在位時間最長、最強大的君主─康熙皇帝的最大型、最重要的 印璽。專拍尚包括一方壽山石雕製之康熙「淵鑑齋」印,以及僅兩部傳世的「康熙寶藪」印譜之 一,其為乾隆皇帝將其祖父康熙之御璽收集鈐蓋,裝訂成冊,以作後世流傳。
Nicolas Chow, Deputy Chairman, Sotheby’s Asia, International Head and Chairman, Chinese Works of Art, said, “It is an unprecedented privilege for us to handle such an important historical relic of China's Imperial past. This seal is emblematic of the Mandate of Heaven, which has legitimised the authority of rulers in China since the dawn of recorded history. This almighty principle was also the single guiding light for the Kangxi Emperor, China’s longest reigning emperor, who is credited for completing the conquest of China, anchoring the Qing dynasty and ushering in a long period of great prosperity and peace. The Kangxi Emperor was the single most powerful person on earth at the time, ruling over a vast Kingdom and over 100 million subjects.”
蘇富比亞洲區副主席、中國藝術品部國際主管及主席仇國仕(Nicolas Chow)表示:「能夠為市場帶 來如此重要的中國御製珍寶,是我們前所未有的無上光榮。康熙為清王朝統一江山並開展一段長久 的輝煌盛世,坐擁廣大的大清帝國和逾億子民,是中國在位時間最長的統治者,亦是當時全世界最 強大的君主。康熙帝『敬天勤民』寶璽正代表了貫穿中國歷史的『君權天授』哲學思想,以及天子 作為天命所歸的統治者之正統性,是康熙帝作為君主的座右銘。」
THE SEAL OF THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN – Key to Legitimacy & Emperorship 「敬天勤民」寶璽
The of the Mandate of Heaven - A Highly Important Imperial Tanxiang Seal Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
10.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm
Estimate upon request, Sotheby's.
The Mandate of Heaven (tianming) is the philosophical tenet that Heaven granted emperors the right to rule based on their ability to govern and their righteousness and was used throughout the history of China to validate and legitimise the rule of the emperors of China. According to this belief, Heaven will only bestow its mandate to a just and virtuous ruler, the Son of Heaven. Otherwise, the Mandate and thus his right over his kingdom and subjects will be forfeited in favour of someone better qualified. The overthrow of an emperor was often interpreted as the loss of the Mandate of Heaven. The kings of the Zhou dynasty (1046- 256 BCE) first used the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to legitimise their rule and the overthrow of the earlier Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BCE).
康熙御寶「敬天勤民」檀香木璽在清代皇帝璽印中非常特殊,與康熙帝的個人信念和政治綱領有密 切關係,為拍賣史上最具歷史價值之中國珍寶。「敬天勤民」寶,於康熙年間一直存放於乾清宮, 此乃皇帝議政和接待外賓的宮殿,足見其重要性。處於清王朝發展鼎盛時期的康熙、雍正、乾隆皇 帝均鐫刻有「敬天勤民」寶,而雍正、乾隆所製者正是以康熙之璽為藍本。他們重視的並不是寶璽 本身,而是「敬天勤民」四字所蘊含的意義和思想,認為此座右銘能為其統治帶來權威和祝福。
蘇富比亞洲區副主席、中國藝術品部國際主管及主席仇國仕(Nicolas Chow)表示:「能夠為市場帶 來如此重要的中國御製珍寶,是我們前所未有的無上光榮。康熙為清王朝統一江山並開展一段長久 的輝煌盛世,坐擁廣大的大清帝國和逾億子民,是中國在位時間最長的統治者,亦是當時全世界最 強大的君主。康熙帝『敬天勤民』寶璽正代表了貫穿中國歷史的『君權天授』哲學思想,以及天子 作為天命所歸的統治者之正統性,是康熙帝作為君主的座右銘。」
THE SEAL OF THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN – Key to Legitimacy & Emperorship 「敬天勤民」寶璽
The of the Mandate of Heaven - A Highly Important Imperial Tanxiang Seal Qing dynasty, Kangxi period
10.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm
Estimate upon request, Sotheby's.
清康熙 康熙帝御寶「敬天勤民」檀香木異獸鈕方璽
10.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 公分
估價待詢
10.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 公分
估價待詢
康熙御寶「敬天勤民」檀香木璽在清代皇帝璽印中非常特殊,與康熙帝的個人信念和政治綱領有密 切關係,為拍賣史上最具歷史價值之中國珍寶。「敬天勤民」寶,於康熙年間一直存放於乾清宮, 此乃皇帝議政和接待外賓的宮殿,足見其重要性。處於清王朝發展鼎盛時期的康熙、雍正、乾隆皇 帝均鐫刻有「敬天勤民」寶,而雍正、乾隆所製者正是以康熙之璽為藍本。他們重視的並不是寶璽 本身,而是「敬天勤民」四字所蘊含的意義和思想,認為此座右銘能為其統治帶來權威和祝福。
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