Shoushan Stone with the “Respectful, frugal, Virtuous” Seal

“Gongjian Weide” Seal on Shoushan Stone with Shape

“Gongjian Weide” Seal, Qing Daoguang, Shoushan Stone with Shape Carved Lingzhi Grape New Square Seal, Chinese Seal Script. The surface is 6cm square and the overall height is 9.5cm
The phrase “respectfulness and frugality are only virtues” comes from the “Book of the Shang, Zhou Guan”: “To promote the virtuous and give way to the capable, the common officials are harmonious, and the words are modest; respectfulness and frugality are only virtues, which are not contained but false, and the words are virtuous.” After quoting this passage, Volume 32 of the Complete Collection of the Yangzheng Book House by Daoguang further stated that it is an important political point, The first is to advocate frugality: “The inner part is to be prudent and prudent, the screen is to be free from flashiness, and the worship of respectfulness and frugality is to be upheld. However, if you are loyal and virtuous, do not be suspicious, if you are slandered, do not be suspicious. Be modest and courteous, and often recite the precepts of fullness and loss.” This fully demonstrates the importance that Emperor Daoguang attached to frugality. He believes that as an emperor governing a country, it is important to conserve resources and love others. The so-called “frugality” is to eliminate luxury and save everything. In ruling a country, emperors should live within their means. All expenses of the royal family should be based on frugality. They should be useful and prudent, without harming wealth or harming the people; We need to streamline our finances and establish a system for frugal spending. Only in this way can we avoid worrying about the emptiness of the national treasury when the country is in trouble. After his accession to the throne, Emperor Daoguang focused on extending frugality from an economic perspective to the path of governing the country, as a necessary measure for cultivating one’s moral integrity and seeking to run the country. He also ordered that frugality be fixed as a system and principle of governing the country, making it a permanent way to revitalize the dynasty. In Daoguang’s eyes, frugality is not only an economic measure, but also his policy platform, which is an important content of the frugality politics he will promote. In order to promote frugality, Emperor Daoguang also practiced it personally. Starting from me, he was frugal in clothes and food, reduced tribute items, and combated the pomp of the court. For decades, he played a good exemplary role. It has been recorded that “During the thirty years of Emperor Xuanzong’s reign, it was rare in history to be frugal in wearing. When wearing overalls, they were worn at the knees, and were often ordered to wear a round silk cloth on top of them. As the custom goes, it was appropriate to slap the palm. Therefore, ministers followed suit and also wore a round silk cloth between the knees.” The degree of frugality was very rare among the emperors of the Qing Dynasty. This seal is an important material object reflecting the frugality thought of Emperor Daoguang


寿山石雕灵芝葡萄“恭俭惟德”玺全形之二寿山石雕灵芝葡萄“恭俭惟德”玺钤本