Imperial edict mounted in a horizontal scroll,... Lot 129

Imperial edict mounted in a horizontal scroll, China, Kangxi period, 1713Written on silk brocade on paper, woven with a ruyi pattern of cranes and clouds. The text, arranged in standard form, is read vertically from right to left in Kaishu and then repeated in Manchu script then vertically from left to right. The frontispiece is adorned with a four-character woven inscription flanked by a pair of five-clawed dragons, meaning "By Heaven's command" (奉天诰命 Feng tian gaomin). The calligraphy ends with two very faded seal impressions and is dated the second day of December in the 52nd year of Kangxi, or 1713 (康熙五十二年十二月初二日). At the beginning of the edict, on the outer edge, an inscription painted in black on blue silk signifying that the recipients are: "The Father, Mother and Biological Mother of Pei Lüdu" preceded by the latter's official title - 候推衛守備加十級裴律度父 前母 并 母 - Houtuiwei shoubei jia shiji Pei Lǜdu Fu Qianmu bing Mu. 31.4 x 502 cmLacks the end caps. This imperial edict confers an honorary title (rank in the civil service) (荣禄大夫 rong lu da fu) on Pei Lǜdu's father, himself Xunfu (裴律度 巡抚) and prefect of Jiangxi province (江西) and the honorary title of Lady of the First Rank (一品夫人 Yi pin fu ren) to his biological mother (张氏 Zhang shi) as well as to his official mother (王氏 Wang shi). The combination of the cloud and bird 鹤(he) motifs is reserved for the first rank. 清 康熙织锦封赏圣旨