“Have a safe journey” with red sandalwood inlaid with jade

[Red sandalwood inlaid jade “Have a safe journey” Ruyi]

Red sandalwood inlaid jade “Have a safe journey” Ruyi, mid Qing Dynasty, 46.3 cm long, 11.3 cm wide first
Ruyi uses red sandalwood as its handle, with S-shaped waves and smooth lines. The body of the tool is plain and its edges are lined. It looks simple, but in fact it is exquisite and exquisite. The first piece is in the shape of a Ruyi cloud, with a slight outline in the middle and tail, and is respectively inlaid with white jade ornaments. The first piece is oval in shape, with a shallow relief of Lusi reeds. The body is inlaid with a bottle shape, with a winding dragon carved on it, and the tail is inlaid with a relief of quail patterns. The combination of “Lusi”, “bottle”, and “quail” can be homophonically referred to as: “one road”, “flat”, “and” safe “, which is a typical combination of auspicious patterns that are homophonically illustrated, This concept and decorative technique are also very representative in the Ming and Qing dynasties
This shape of Ruyi belongs to the category of three inlays of Ruyi created by the court during the Qianlong period. That is, jade ornaments are inlaid in the head, body, and tail of bamboo and wood Ruyi, mainly composed of red sandalwood, especially those inlaid with ancient jade. Some of the Warring States and Han Dynasty jade swords, jade belt plates, and small jade cong collected in the Qing Dynasty palace are cleverly decorated on top of Ruyi. Qianlong once wrote a poem that said, “Han jade sandalwood has a long handle,” and “one containing three interesting things can be seen in detail.” (See “Ode to Han jade sandalwood handle, Ruyi,” written in 1771 in the 36th year of Qianlong’s reign.) He was quite proud of this “invention.”. As a model system in the mid and late Qing Dynasty, San Xiang Ruyi can highlight the aesthetic interest of the court in pursuing antiquity, refinement, and novelty.