Glass is not a rare thing for modern people, so many people may have an illusion that glass is a modern material. In fact, the earliest glassmakers in the world were the ancient Egyptians, and the origin of glass technology in China can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty or earlier, and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty.
In the Qing Dynasty, since the establishment of the Qing Palace Glass Factory in the Kangxi Dynasty, glass production has been concerned by every emperor of the Qing Dynasty, especially the three emperors of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong. Among them, the glass manufacturing in Yongzheng Dynasty occupies an important position in the history of glass development in Qing Dynasty, which is an important stage of connecting the past with the future. The small glass screen of
flower painting is 20 cm long and 26
cm wide. In the early 18th century, a large number of glass decorative components appeared in the palace buildings of the Qing Dynasty. In the Old Summer Palace, glass decorative screens, mirrors, windows and other building components are everywhere. For example, in September of the first year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1723), it was recorded in the work of wood that three glass screens with red sandalwood edges were made. The largest one was eight feet high, with a mirror six feet three inches high and three feet four inches wide. In addition, there was a glass screen with rosewood edges, with a mirror one foot six inches five minutes high and one foot three inches five minutes wide. Yongzheng three years (1725) in September, "wood" contains: "Old Summer Palace rear hall inside the immortal downstairs to do a double round glass window, two feet two inches in diameter, the edge of hardwood, a painting in front of a double happiness, a glass in the back. There used to be a kind of "collection glass window" in Penglaizhou, and some glass windows also had flower or landscape stickers. In
addition to the role of architectural decoration, glass products in the Qing Dynasty also had a close relationship with the government and occupied a pivotal position. Now let's take the Yongzheng Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty as an example to see what kind of important role ordinary glass played in the eyes of modern people at that time. The glass production of the Yongzheng Dynasty, a symbol
of
official status, developed steadily on the basis of the Kangxi Dynasty. According to the records of the Yongzheng Dynasty, Glass has more than 30 colors and various shapes, and is decorated with glass instead of precious stones in many handicrafts. However, the function of these glass products is not limited to pure furnishings, daily necessities, but also related to the government, especially the official clothing, glass hat top is typical. It is recorded in Volume 99 of Shizong Memoir of
the Qing Dynasty
that "the Ministry of Rites: the caps of officials, big and small, were previously agreed upon, but not separately detailed, and the Ministry of Rites was then discussed and customized to play." General Fengguo and officials of the third grade all use sapphire or blue bright glass caps inlaid with small rubies; General Fengen and officials of the fourth grade all use lapis lazuli or blue nirvana (that is, opaque) glass caps inlaid with small sapphires; officials of the fifth grade use crystal or white bright glass caps inlaid with small sapphires; officials of the sixth grade use (ch ch磲 Q qú is a rare organic gemstone, white as jade, and is also a sacred object of Buddhism.) Or a white nirvana glass cap, inlaid with small sapphires..
It clearly stipulates that glass decoration should be used on the hats of officials from the third grade to the sixth grade. So why add glass products to the dress code? There is only one explanation, that is, the supply of natural gemstones is in short supply, and glass was regarded as the same precious thing as natural gemstones at that time. Therefore, the word "or" is used in the text to clarify the equal status of gemstones and glass. Glass hat tops were incorporated into the crown dress system in the Yongzheng Dynasty, which pioneered the use of glass to make official hat tops. Later, in the Qianlong Dynasty, glass was also used instead of precious stones to make hat tops, and it was extended to the imperial relatives.
Jinxing Glass Sanyang Kaitai Mountain is 12.5 centimeters high and 22
centimeters long. It is a valuable reward
for vassal States. The Qing Dynasty thought it was the "Celestial Kingdom" located in the center, and the surrounding vassal States needed to pay tribute to the Qing court regularly. Whenever a new king ascended the throne or held a major festival, the vassal States would send envoys to celebrate and request the conferment of titles. The Qing court had the obligation to maintain the feudal ruling order of the vassal States, to send envoys to various countries to issue imperial edicts, to confer titles, and to reward a large number of precious items to the kings of the vassal States and the tributary envoys of various countries.
Glassware, like jade, enamel, porcelain, silks and satins, was one of the important gifts presented to the surrounding vassal States in the Qing Dynasty. Ryukyu, Siam, Annam, Sulu, Nanzhang and other vassal States sent envoys to pay tribute to the Qing court at different times, and the Qing court often returned different amounts of satin and other gifts according to the usual practice. Sometimes, in addition to the regular rewards, they also gave jade, enamel, porcelain and other items, and glassware was an important one of the additional items.
The yellow set of green glass melon-shaped box is 4.7 cm in height and 7.7 X 8.3 cm in caliber.
In addition to being a reward for the vassal States, the glass is also an important gift for attracting religious leaders and foreign Mongolians. For example, it is recorded that on the first day of the third month of the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama were rewarded with a pair of round purple glass vases and a pair of white glass covered bowls. On the 16th day of the first lunar month in the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the eunuchs Liu Yu and Wang Changgui issued a decree: "First, the Mongol king and others used 18 gold-colored glasses, 14 carved white glasses, and 25 carved blue glasses from the Qing Tea House of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.". The place where the glass was fired was still repaired. "
The Qing court rewarded the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama with fashionable and precious glass, enamel and other utensils at that time, on the one hand, in order to show the monks and the common people that the Qing court affirmed the status of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama as religious leaders, and to show their courtesy.". On the other hand, it is intended to use the influence of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama between Mongolia and Xizang to appease Mongolia and stabilize Xizang. The reward of Mongolia to foreign countries reflected the established national policy of the Qing Dynasty to unite Mongolia and attach importance to Mongolia.
The colorless transparent glass covered bowl with golden banana leaf pattern is 7.3 cm high and 10.7 cm in caliber. The embodiment
of the favor
to the trusted ministers is different from the reward to the surrounding vassal States, the Xizang region and the foreign vassal Mongolia. Yongzheng's reward to his officials fully reflects the meaning of the favor. It is a symbol of honor. For example, when items such as swords and fire sickle bags are given to general soldiers in accordance with the usual practice, a glass snuff bottle is often included; Li Wei's mother was given 16 pieces of glass utensils of various colors; Ji Zeng, the governor of the river in the south of the Yangtze River, was given a pair of glass bottles and a yellow glass milk stove, and so on.
Throughout history, although the scale and quantity of glass production in Yongzheng Dynasty could not be compared with those in Qianlong Dynasty, which was in the heyday of glass production, the scope of reward was very limited because of its small scale. This highlights the significance and important role of glass as a symbol of status and rank at that time.
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