Seal: 10.8 x 10.8 x 7.5 cm
Base: 13.5 x 13.5 x 3.3 cm

This imperial jade seal, crafted during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, is made of high-quality Hetian white jade. The jade is warm and delicate in texture, with a milky white hue subtly tinged with green and adorned with natural veining, exuding the noble aura of a royal artifact. The seal is square in shape, meticulously proportioned, and features an inscription on its base: “Treasure for Commanding and Rectifying All Nations” (敕正萬邦之宝), engraved in both Chinese and Mongolian scripts. The characters are deeply carved with a bold and vigorous style, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and a well-balanced layout that embodies imperial majesty.

The seal knob is adorned with a pair of intertwined chilong dragons (a mythical hornless dragon), sculpted with extraordinary skill. Each dragon is depicted with wide-open eyes, flared nostrils, curling whiskers, and prominent sharp teeth, radiating a sense of vitality and imposing power. The dragons’ scales and flowing manes are intricately carved, with smooth, dynamic lines that highlight the complexity and refinement of the craftsmanship. The two dragons coil tightly together, their limbs crouched in a lively, poised manner, appearing almost lifelike. On either side of the chilong dragons, inscriptions read “Treasure of the Qianlong Emperor’s Calligraphy” (乾隆御笔之宝) and “Treasure of the Qianlong Emperor’s Viewing” (乾隆御览之宝). A central perforation in the knob allows for a cord to be threaded through, making it convenient for suspension.

The four sides of the seal are engraved with an imperial inscription by the Qianlong Emperor, featuring a poem titled Self-Admonition by the Master Who Reveres Heaven (信天主人自箴), written to encourage himself to govern diligently. The characters are filled with gold, showcasing a neat and dignified calligraphic style. The arrangement is orderly, and the carving is smooth and fluid, reflecting the Qianlong Emperor's literary achievements and cultural sophistication. In terms of material, craftsmanship, and inscription design, this jade seal is a masterpiece. It is paired with a jadeite base, which is also engraved with the Chinese and Mongolian scripts for “Treasure for Commanding and Rectifying All Nations,” matching the seal’s inscription. The base was designed for practical use, allowing the user to identify the seal’s inscription immediately upon opening the box, eliminating the need to flip the seal over—a thoughtful detail that demonstrates the ingenuity of the imperial artisans. This combination of white jade seal and jadeite base is as harmonious as a fine horse paired with an exquisite saddle, complementing each other to create a magnificent and extraordinary artifact that radiates imperial dignity and artistic value. Remarkably, despite the passage of centuries, the seal and its base remain perfectly intact, making this a quintessential example of Qianlong-era imperial seals with immense historical and collectible value.

The Qianlong Emperor adopted precedents from ancient rulers to determine the number of imperial seals, symbolizing the enduring prosperity of his dynasty. Over his lifetime, he commissioned the creation of more than 1,800 seals in a variety of materials, including bronze, jade, stone, crystal, agate, ivory, bamboo, amber, and clay. The inscriptions on these seals were equally diverse, encompassing Confucian classics, poetic verses, and the emperor’s own compositions.

This particular jade seal is one of the twenty-five imperial seals designated by the Qianlong Emperor to represent the authority of the state, underscoring its exceptional status. Before Qianlong’s reign, the number of imperial seals was not fixed. By the early years of his reign, there were already 29 types of imperial seals, totaling 39 pieces. However, due to inconsistencies in historical records and unclear purposes, there was considerable confusion. To address this, in the 11th year of Qianlong’s reign (1746), the emperor reexamined and reorganized the seals of previous dynasties, establishing a definitive total of 25 imperial seals and specifying their respective uses. These seals included: Treasure of the Mandate of the Great Qing Dynasty, Treasure for Commanding and Rectifying All Nations, Treasure of the Emperor’s Heavenly Mandate, Treasure of the Successor to the Throne of the Great Qing Dynasty, two Treasures of the Emperor, Treasure of the Son of Heaven, Treasure of the Emperor’s Reverence for Kin, Treasure of the Emperor’s Affection for Kin, Seal of the Emperor’s Travels, Seal of the Emperor’s Trust, Seal of the Son of Heaven’s Travels, Seal of the Son of Heaven’s Trust, Treasure of Revering Heaven and Serving the People, Treasure of Proclamations, Treasure of Edicts, Treasure of Instructions, Treasure of Virtue, Seal of Literary Works, Treasure of Classical and Historical Writings, Treasure of Touring the Realm, Treasure of Punishing Rebellion and Pacifying the People, Treasure of Commanding the Six Armies, Treasure for Commanding and Rectifying the People, and Treasure of Vast Fortune. Each of these seals had a specific function, collectively representing the emperor’s exercise of supreme state authority.

The inscriptions on the seals, as standardized in the 11th year of Qianlong’s reign, were written in both Manchu and Chinese seal script, except for the green jade Treasure of the Emperor, which featured only Manchu seal script. In the 13th year of Qianlong’s reign, the emperor introduced a Manchu seal script style to harmonize the Manchu and Chinese scripts on the seals. He issued an imperial edict mandating that, except for four seals (Treasure of the Mandate of the Great Qing Dynasty, Treasure of the Emperor’s Heavenly Mandate, Treasure of the Successor to the Throne of the Great Qing Dynasty, and the green jade Treasure of the Emperor), which predated the Qing dynasty’s conquest of China and could not be altered lightly, the remaining 21 seals were to be re-engraved in the new Manchu seal script style. This is the set of 25 seals we see today.

Numerous Qianlong-era imperial seals have appeared on the global auction market, often fetching astronomical prices, such as the Treasure of the Master Who Reveres Heaven and the Treasure of the Ancient and Rare Emperor of Five Fortunate Generations. However, seals accompanied by jadeite bases are exceedingly rare. The inclusion of a jadeite base with this “Treasure for Commanding and Rectifying All Nations” seal underscores its rarity and exceptional value. Furthermore, this seal was used in diplomatic and ceremonial exchanges between the Qing Empire and foreign nations, making it an essential emblem of the Qing dynasty’s international relations. Its unique status and historical significance further highlight its unparalleled importance.