Ruyi scepter
A Ruyi -Zepter (of Chinese 如意 , Pinyin Ruyi , "everything as desired") is a decorative item and Talisman of Chinese culture . It is supposed to bring happiness and blessings to the owner , so it is primarily not a symbol of power like the European scepter .
Usually the Ruyi scepter consists of a head in the shape of a cloud, a heart or a mushroom and a slightly S-shaped curved stem. A wide variety of materials are used in its manufacture. Commonly used are hardwood , jade , ivory , coral , numerous precious metals and lacquer . The surface of the Ruyi scepter is usually richly decorated; often the decor contains symbols that are supposed to favor the fate of its owner, for example those that promise a long life, prosperity and success.
The Ruyi scepter goes back to the completely profane back scratches (痒痒 挠yangyangnáo ). As early as the Han dynasty , however, these were held in their hands by scholars and nobles during conversation, which earned them the name Tánbǐ (谈 笔; "conversation stick"). In the Ming and Qing periods , their use for decorative and symbolic purposes finally gained acceptance.
The Ruyi scepter was also very popular as a gift. The emperor in particular traditionally received preciously crafted specimens from the leading officials, generals and scholars of the empire for the New Year celebrations ; In addition, the Son of Heaven himself commissioned some in the imperial workshops. As a result, the sceptres adorned the imperial throne rooms, desks and bedrooms in great numbers. The function of the Ruyi scepter came a little closer to that of its western counterpart as a symbol of rule. The Beijing Palace Museum has around 3,000 copies, most of which come from the Qing Dynasty.
literature
- Josef Guter: Lexicon of the gods and symbols of the ancient Chinese. Marix, Wiesbaden 2004, ISBN 3-937715-04-5 , p. 276