Xiqing gujian
Encyclopedia
The Xiqing Gujian is a 40-volume catalogue of Chinese bronzes
in the collection of the Qianlong emperor
. It was compiled over the period 1749 to 1755 and documents 1529 bronze artefacts in the Imperial collection.
Each entry contains an engraving of the item catalogued, and a detailed description including the dimensions and weight of the artefact. Each volume is 29.5 cm by 22.6 cm, with 10 lines per page, and 18 characters per line. The frontispiece
in marked with the date "乾隆十四年十一月初七日" (The seventh day, of the eleventh month, of the 14th year of the reign of the Qianlong Emperor) and the officials involved in the production of the catalogue.
A supplement, called the Xīqīng xùjiàn (西清續鑑), was published in 1793. The supplement added a further 1875 items to the catalogue and included another 900 items stored at the Imperial palace in Shèngjīng (盛京, which is modern day Shěnyáng
瀋陽).
As the Emperor was an assiduous collector of antique bronzes, almost all ancient Chinese bronzes were at one time or another part of the Imperial collection. Being so comprehensive, the catalogue has therefore been extremely influential in the study of Chinese bronzes.
Chinese bronzes
Bronzes are some of the most important pieces of Chinese art, warranting an entire separate catalogue in the Imperial art collections. The Chinese Bronze Age began in the Xia Dynasty, and bronze ritual containers form the bulk of the collection of Chinese antiques, reaching its zenith during the...
in the collection of the Qianlong emperor
Qianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
. It was compiled over the period 1749 to 1755 and documents 1529 bronze artefacts in the Imperial collection.
Each entry contains an engraving of the item catalogued, and a detailed description including the dimensions and weight of the artefact. Each volume is 29.5 cm by 22.6 cm, with 10 lines per page, and 18 characters per line. The frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
in marked with the date "乾隆十四年十一月初七日" (The seventh day, of the eleventh month, of the 14th year of the reign of the Qianlong Emperor) and the officials involved in the production of the catalogue.
A supplement, called the Xīqīng xùjiàn (西清續鑑), was published in 1793. The supplement added a further 1875 items to the catalogue and included another 900 items stored at the Imperial palace in Shèngjīng (盛京, which is modern day Shěnyáng
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
瀋陽).
As the Emperor was an assiduous collector of antique bronzes, almost all ancient Chinese bronzes were at one time or another part of the Imperial collection. Being so comprehensive, the catalogue has therefore been extremely influential in the study of Chinese bronzes.