{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O101179"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O101179/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0239/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MT0239/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MT0239","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AG6867","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH2243","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH3910","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH3908","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH3906","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O101179/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O101179","accessionNumber":"A.17-1925","objectType":"Sceptre","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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. \r\n\r\nThe 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\r\ngreen jade 'ruyi'. \r\n\r\n‘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.\r\n\r\nThe 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.","physicalDescription":"Ceremonial sceptre, 'ruyi', or token of good fortunen, green jade.  Long stem with flowers and petals, with bulbous end with floral scrolls and coils.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Jade","id":"AAT11119"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Nephrite jade with carved decoration","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"India Museum","id":"THES286062"},{"text":"Hardstone","id":"THES270137"}],"styles":[{"text":"Qianlong","id":"AAT18486"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2020MT0239","2006AG6867","2006AH2243","2006AH3910","2006AH3908","2006AH3906"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES362162"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ruyi (sceptre)","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"circa 1790","earliest":"1785-01-01","latest":"1794-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Royal Asiatic Society","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"35.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"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.\r\nLent 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.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sceptre, <font -i>Ruyi</font -i>, nephrite jade with carved decoration, China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), ca.1790","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Nick Pearce, 'An imperial gift: a jade ruyi in the V&A', V&A Album, no.4, 1985"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, 2004, no.91"},{"reference":{"text":"Jackson, Anna & Jaffer, Amin (eds.) <i>Encounters : the meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800</i>, London, V&A, 2004","id":"AUTH353422"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"如意","id":"CIT281776"},{"text":"花","id":"CIT280557"},{"text":"葉","id":"CIT287094"},{"text":"枝","id":"CIT287096"},{"text":"果","id":"CIT279132"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.17-1925"],"accessionNumberNum":"17","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1925,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"India Museum Catalogue (IS) Number","id":"THES52550"},"number":"07683(IS)"},{"type":{"text":"India Museum Slip Book","id":"THES50388"},"number":"12,178"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-10","recordCreationDate":"2004-06-25","availableToBook":true}}