Shoushan Stone Feixiong Niu’s “morning and evening” treasure

[Shoushan Stone Feixiong Niu “Chaoqianshiti” treasure]

“Chaoqianshiti” seal, Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, Shoushan stone, Feixiong Niu square seal, seal script in Chinese. The face is 6cm square, the overall height is 7cm, and the button height is 4cm
The phrase “morning and evening” refers to the words “the gentleman is dry all day long, and the evening is vigorous” in the Book of Changes, which means that he is diligent and prudent all day long. This treasure was carved in the first year of Yongzheng’s reign (1723). According to the Work File of the Manufacturing Office of the Palace of the Qing Dynasty, “On the 23rd day of the first year of Yongzheng’s reign, Prince Yi handed over the red Shoushan stone Feixiong button book to the party… with the order: the Feixiong button book was engraved with the word” morning and evening “… and this was admired. On the 13th day of March, the red Shoushan stone Feixiong button book was engraved with the word” morning and evening “… Prince Yi presented it.” This treasure is an important cultural relic reflecting the diligent thought of Emperor Yongzheng, It is often stamped on his imperial calligraphy
Emperor Yongzheng was famous among the emperors of the Qing Dynasty for his diligence. Many of his poems record his tireless and diligent work. “We should try our best to solve the problem of sullenness, drum and harp, and the book on the wall of the hall is hung with a great treasure. It is hard to throw away an inch of time to see how hot the sun is.” “The false curtain rolls up the dawn, and the willow catkins and elm money are in the late spring. Every time we forget the flowers and the moon, we can only watch the rain and the sun at the right time. The night clothes and food are not dry, but the morning is dry and the evening is dry. Although the discipline is issued seven times, the people are deeply ashamed but not honest.” What can best reflect the diligence of Emperor Yongzheng is the large number of Zhupai edicts he left behind. These edicts were randomly approved by Emperor Yongzheng on the secret fold played by local officials. Each fold was “tens of words, or hundreds of words, and there were as many as thousands of words”. Emperor Yongzheng must read these secret folds and give corresponding instructions. “These memorials are all delivered to me in person. I personally read them and wholesale them in my own handwriting. Every word shows my mind. None of them is fake or praised by others.” When I am nervous, I have to review dozens of them every day, often late at night. On the Zhu Pi, we often see the record of his work day and night
Emperor Yongzheng believed that “Chaoqianxieti” was about the matter of man and man, and only man and man were worthy of these four words, so he attached great importance to it. In February of the third year of Yongzheng’s reign (1725), Nian Gengyao made a list to praise Emperor Yongzheng’s “morning and evening”, but mistook “morning and evening” for “morning and evening”. Emperor Yongzheng was furious and said that Nian Gengyao “did not want to return the” morning and evening “to my ears”. Emperor Yongzheng once said confidently: “Considering that the way of ruling the world since ancient times was based on the principle of excellence and the principle of inaction, I did not dare to reach the ancient philosopher king with merit and virtue, but with this diligence, I was confident that I could not honor the ancient precepts, and I did not deserve the deep gratitude entrusted by the emperor.” He carved “being cautious in the morning and the evening” and “being conscientious and conscientious” into his seal, which is both self-improvement and self-pride
The flying bear button of this treasure is finely carved, which is the representative work of the button engraving in the early Qing Dynasty


寿山石飞熊纽“朝乾夕惕”玺全形之二寿山石飞熊纽“朝乾夕惕”玺钤本