Court beads of freshwater pearls, Jiaqing reign (1796-1820), Qing dynasty-China Archive

Image Number: K1D001746N000000000PAB
Dynasty: Qing dynasty
Category: Miscellaneous objects
Function: Clothing and accessories
Material: Minerals/jade jewelry/pearls
Description:
The Chaozhu, which is worn on the chest, is unique to the costume system of the Qing Dynasty. According to the identity level, there are different material regulations. The highest level is the East Pearl Dynasty bead produced in the Songhua River and other basins in the northeast of the Manchu Longxing. Only the emperor, empress dowager and empress can wear it with the court bead during the grand ceremony. This east pearl of the Jiaqing Emperor is made of 108 east pearls with a diameter of one centimeter. The coral is separated by four beads and is decorated with jade beads. The top lapis lazuli Buddha head tower is decorated with bright yellow ribbons and inlaid with the back cloud and the falling angle of the tourmaline. Three strings are twisted by ten tourmaline beads and blue gemstones. It is the same as other court beads in the collection, but its decoration is “appropriate for each treasure and miscellaneous ornaments”. It was originally stored in a wooden box lined with yellow silk, with a yellow ink signature “Renzong” inside.