掐丝珐琅座青白玉七珍 （7件一堂）

 

 

掐丝珐琅座青白玉七珍 （7件一堂）

A Set of 7-piece Jade Rarities with Wiry Enameled Base

 

清乾隆 Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period （1736-1795）

通高（H）36cm；底长（Base Length）13cm；宽（W）11cm

 

七珍，亦称七政宝，为佛前常设供器，原为古印度神话中转轮王福力所生之宝。一为轮宝，降伏四方恶魔；二为象宝，佛以形象教人；三为马宝，驱驰四方，跋涉生死大海；四为摩尼宝，净浊水；五为女宝，为转轮王之供养；六为男宝，亦称主藏臣宝，掌宝藏；七为将军宝，是转轮王的护法神。在佛教中，七珍代表“大圆满七觉支”，即能增长觉悟智慧的七种修行。

这套七珍以产自新疆和田的青白玉雕刻而成，工艺精湛，形象栩栩如生。下承掐丝珐琅座，分三层，上层为仰覆莲台，中层为葫芦形捉手，下层为矮圈足，表面饰以缠枝花纹。珐琅座下为紫檀木圆座，表面镂雕莲瓣纹和卷云纹。供奉于清宫养性殿西配殿。

 

A set of 7-piece Rarities are also called 7-piece Treasured Tricks which are consecrate implements before Buddha. They are said to be from Cakra Vartin, the ancient Hindu mythologic king. The 7 Rarities respectively are 1.) a wheel for subduing devils from 4 corners; 2.) an elephant, the symbol of Buddhism; 3.) a house for touring the world of life and death; 4.) Cinta-Mani beads for purification; 5.) the femininity, the consecrate to Cakra Vartin, 6.) the masculinity, the treasury keeper; and 7.) a warrior, the Dhammapala of Cakra Vartin. In Buddhism, the 7 Rarities stand for “7 Dzogchen and 7 sapta bodhyanga”---7 practices to improve consciousness and wisdom.

This set of 7-piece Jade Rarities were vividly made with light greenish white jade of Hotan, Xinjiang with exquisite craftsmanship. The bases of them are wiry enameled and made in 3 layers---The upper layer is in the design of double lotus; the middle layer is in gourd shape for grasping; and the lower layer is a short ring foot decorated with design of winding branches. The round holder underneath is made of red sandalwood, which is engraved with petal and cirrus cloud design. The whole set had been consecrated in the west side hall of the Yang Xing Dian (Hall of Cultivation of Character).