Ruyi Sceptre
circa 1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ‘ruyi’ was a diplomatic gift from a Chinese emperor to a British embassy. In September 1793 Lord George Macartney led the first British embassy to China. He met Emperor Qianlong in his summer retreat in Chengde, about 250 kilometres from Beijing.
The British brought sumptuous gifts from George III, including telescopes, clocks and even a carriage. Gifts from the emperor to members of the embassy, however, seemed mysterious and of little practical value. They included this
green jade 'ruyi'.
‘Ruyi’ literally means 'as you wish'. English writers sometimes described it as a 'sceptre' for want of a better word, but it did not symbolise sovereignty. Instead it was a token of good fortune. The Chinese habitually gave ‘ruyi’ as gifts because of their auspicious connotations.
The embassy was not a success. The Chinese were not impressed when Lord Macartney refused to 'kowtow' to the emperor. The British went home without securing the trading terms they set out to achieve. The ownership of the ‘ruyi’ passed from the Royal Asiatic Society, to the India Office and finally the V&A.
The British brought sumptuous gifts from George III, including telescopes, clocks and even a carriage. Gifts from the emperor to members of the embassy, however, seemed mysterious and of little practical value. They included this
green jade 'ruyi'.
‘Ruyi’ literally means 'as you wish'. English writers sometimes described it as a 'sceptre' for want of a better word, but it did not symbolise sovereignty. Instead it was a token of good fortune. The Chinese habitually gave ‘ruyi’ as gifts because of their auspicious connotations.
The embassy was not a success. The Chinese were not impressed when Lord Macartney refused to 'kowtow' to the emperor. The British went home without securing the trading terms they set out to achieve. The ownership of the ‘ruyi’ passed from the Royal Asiatic Society, to the India Office and finally the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Nephrite jade with carved decoration |
| Brief description | Ruyi, jade, Chinese |
| Physical description | Ceremonial sceptre, 'ruyi', or token of good fortunen, green jade. Long stem with flowers and petals, with bulbous end with floral scrolls and coils. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by the Royal Asiatic Society |
| Object history | This ruyi was presented to George Staunton, Lord George Macartney's deputy and minister plenipotentiary of the first British embassy to China, by the Qianlong emperor in 1793. Lent by the Royal Asiatic Society of London to the India Museum. Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in Novemeber 1879. Renumbered in 1925. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ‘ruyi’ was a diplomatic gift from a Chinese emperor to a British embassy. In September 1793 Lord George Macartney led the first British embassy to China. He met Emperor Qianlong in his summer retreat in Chengde, about 250 kilometres from Beijing. The British brought sumptuous gifts from George III, including telescopes, clocks and even a carriage. Gifts from the emperor to members of the embassy, however, seemed mysterious and of little practical value. They included this green jade 'ruyi'. ‘Ruyi’ literally means 'as you wish'. English writers sometimes described it as a 'sceptre' for want of a better word, but it did not symbolise sovereignty. Instead it was a token of good fortune. The Chinese habitually gave ‘ruyi’ as gifts because of their auspicious connotations. The embassy was not a success. The Chinese were not impressed when Lord Macartney refused to 'kowtow' to the emperor. The British went home without securing the trading terms they set out to achieve. The ownership of the ‘ruyi’ passed from the Royal Asiatic Society, to the India Office and finally the V&A. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.17-1925 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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