{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O407090"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O407090/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM4994/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM4994/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM4994","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O407090/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O407090","accessionNumber":"D.1956-1900","objectType":"Album page","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The Illustrated Regulations for Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Present Dynasty is an illustrated manuscript commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1736-1795). The main body of the commission began in 1750 and was completed in 1759. It was a conclusion of the Emperor's decade-long efforts to regulate the ritual codes and procedures as a means of ruling since his enthronement. \r\nAs a major imperial commission, the book is of monumental scale. As many as 27 court painters and calligraphers were working on the commission under five editors in-chief, Yilu (1695-1767), Jiang Pu (1708-1761), Wang Youdun (1692-1758), Guanbao (?-1776) and He Guozong (?-1766). \r\nAfter editing and further expansion, the manuscript was printed by the Palace Publications Office in the Wuying Palace in 1766 It was finally included as part of the Four Treasures imperial library project in 1773. For that purpose seven copies were produced and stored in libraries across the empire.\r\nThe book consists of six parts - ceremonial vessels, scientific equipments, dress, musical instruments, insignia and weaponry. They contain more than 1300 leaves of illustrations and explanatory texts.\r\nThe V&A’s collection of the manuscript is incomplete. All its leaves, together with those in the British Library, in the National Museums of Scotland and in the National Museum of Ireland, may have been part of the version kept in the Wenyuan Pavilion library in the Yuanming yuan Summer Palace, Beijing.\r\n","physicalDescription":"The album page features handwritten textual annotations accompanying the drawing of D.1957-1900.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"},{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2007BM4994"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES393745"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Album page","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"China","id":"x29398"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"42.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"41.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"The Emperor's banner which is displayed at the Flag Gate within the travelling camp.\r\n\nThis banner is designed in strict accordance with the rules laid down in the 20th year of the Emperor K'ien-lung (1755). It is of three kinds. That one to East is yellow bordered, that one to West is plain yellow, and that one to South is plain white. All are made of satin.\r\n\nWith the yellow bordered banner a red fringe is added, but this is not so with the plain yellow and white.\nThe face is washed with golden clouds and dragons.\r\n\nIt is 4 feet 8 inches in height and 5 feet in width. -The margins are ornamented with flames in gold, and are 8 inches broad. The staff is bamboo, coloured red with bands. It is 14 feet 5 inches long, and 6 inches and 3 tenths in circumference. At the head is a gold cap representing the tail of a panther. Below hangs a red tassel with a bright yellow ribbon pointed and ornamented with golden tongues of fire. This is 5 feet 3 inches long and 9 inches broad. The foot of the staff is shod with an iron point 4 inches in length. At the side an iron ring through which is passed the thong which keeps the staff erect.","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"The acquisition register notes that D.1947 to D.2017 - 1900 were purchased from the dealer E. Parsons & Sons.  This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\r\nThe Parsons archive file make no mention of this group of album pages, however, so it is not entirely clear how they were acquired. Research suggests that this group of album pages belongs to the same set of the 'Illustrated Paraphernalia' as another in the V&A, museum numbers 805 to 903 -1886, which may have been take from the Yuanming Yuan (Summer Palace) in 1860 when it was plundered and destroyed by British and French troops during the Second Opium War. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pap, China, paintings and drawings","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["D.1956-1900"],"accessionNumberNum":"1956","accessionNumberPrefix":"D","accessionYear":1900,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":false}}