Emperor Qianlong’s Jade Imperial Seal In London Auction

Earlier this year at a Christie’s auction regarding the sell of two bronze Zodiac Heads caused uproars of nationalistic sentiments online. Today, another auction at the Sotheby’s Auction House in London once again provoked in the minds of the Chinese netizens the past histories of humiliation and loss. The main item of attraction is Emperor Qianlong’s own jade seal, estimated to fetch up to 600,000 British Pounds. Historically, the Imperial Seal represents the very raison d’être of a dynasty. In fact, the character for country “国” contained the character “玉”, or jade, as a important symbol for national legitimacy. In addition, the other item up for auction includes chinaware and ironically relics from the Cultural Revolution.

From ifeng:

November 2nd, attendants at London’s Sotheby’s Auction House displayed Qing Dynasty Qianlong “Treasure of eight journey and perennial thoughts”, Cross Dragon Imperial Seal and the Tianqing Jade Seal (Estimated: 400,000 and 600,000 Pound). London’s Sotheby’s Auction House will on November 4th 2009 hold an auction of Chinese porcelain and handcraft. Items up for auction includes Han Dynasty glazed horses, Qianlong Imperial Seals, and Cultural Revolution Era relics.

Comments from ifeng:

大漠沙尘:

This is the true face of Western thieves under the guise of culture and human rights! Look at those finely dressed savages! Chinese people will take back everything that once belonged to us!

cqyangz:

Shameless British people; Humiliating chapter in recent Chinese history.

莲花如梦:

When did these treasures flow abroad???

山丁子:

Western democracy is built on the foundation of theft.

litielei:

This you cannot blame on others, who let our government at the time be so worthless. In the future when we are strong, we will take it back from their hands.

fenghuangpy:

That poster must be a joke! I do not even know how they obtained it.

a6798024:

The Old Summer Palace is a national humiliation, but it does have bad and good outcomes. If those relics were not looted, then they will probably be destroyed in the extermination campaigns during the Culture Revolution.

jobenc:

Our diplomats can only “Protest strongly regarding this matter”, can’t do much else.

Comments from NetEase:

网易陕西榆林网友:

Westerners like to boast their civilization and morality; do not spit on the street, do not throw trash everywhere, and look down on Chinese people’s qualities. In reality, the uncivilized and greedy ones are them. In the past, those who killed all the Native Americans, exported opium across the world, colonized the whole globe, kill and looted everywhere. Aren’t those people their [Westerner] ancestors? Those born of wild animals, will always be animals, what civilization can they have.

网易海南海口网友:

Never forget national humiliation~~

网易广东深圳网友:

That bird [Mao], purposely act as if he is a head taller than the peasants, scum, why don’t he put on a Dragon robe [Imperial]!

网易山东烟台网友:

The Eight Nation Alliance were really low class, loot if you want, but why smash and burn the thing you can’t carry. Despicable, give us back the Old Summer Palace.

网易山东济南网友:

Now is not America invading Vietnam, nor China protecting Vietnam, now is Vietnam intruding on China!!!

网易陕西西安网友:

Wow, Mao really must’ve been a great man, that height is at least 2 meters right?

The Imperial Seal was sold today (November 5th) for 3.15 million British Pounds.