The Qianlong Emperor's Three-Connected Seals - View 1

The left, square seal is inscribed with four characters that are translated as "Qianlong’s Brushwork" (Qianlong chenhan). The middle, rounded seal is inscribed with two characters translated as "Rejoice in Heaven" (Le tian, which alludes to an optimistic approach to life). The right, square seal is inscribed with four characters translated as "Wholly Pure, Exclusively One" (Weijing weiyi, which is alternately translated as "Be Pure, Be of One [Mind]"). The chained seals were made for the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty after he retired from his imperial duties and abdicated the throne to his son. The three seals and chains were carved from a piece of stone (known as tianhuang, lit. "field-yellow"). The seals reveal the foremost skills of the craftsman. Often used by the Qianlong Emperor to mark his own paintings or calligraphic works, the seals are among the most exquisite of his imperial seals and were treasured by subsequent emperors.

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