Reveal the Forbidden City Clock Museum and Royal 300 years of collection

Forbidden City Clock Museum Collection The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were the heyday of the feudal society in China. Social stability, unprecedented accumulation of wealth. Huge wealth makes people rich for luxury consumption. Watch due to its sophisticated design, unique features, beautiful and luxurious decoration as a luxury representative. At that time all walks of life have a strong curiosity and possessiveness, the emperors are no exception. Moreover, the emperors' pursuit of the quirks decided that the palace clock collection was quite ornamental. And, with the expansion of diplomatic relations in the Qing Dynasty, there have been continual foreign missions to China. When choosing gifts for the emperor, they are often struggling with their thoughts. The timepiece, which represents both the technological level of the time and the emperor's interest and attention, often becomes the first choice of gifts. Therefore, a large number of beautiful clocks continue to enter the palace, so that the Royal Palace and the Royal Garden 囿 become the most concentrated collection of watches and clocks, the emperor became the owner has the largest collection of watches. Since then, he has also made his own chimes to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Since then, he has become a new fashion in the Chinese emperors for his own timepieces of different tastes and taste. It is no exaggeration to say that Western missionaries opened the door to the Chinese court. of. These two self-chimes are the source of the future royal palace's collection and production of chimes. Matteo Ricci finally left in Beijing accordingly, and he brought his own chime, but also opened the Chinese court production, use, collection of watches and clocks precedent. Emperor imperial bell, made within the clock than the Western clock much stronger With the hard work of the Western missionaries in the Qing dynasty, the imperial bells were comparable in craftsmanship and technology to those of the Western clocks of the time. Just because of the active involvement and high demands of the Emperor himself in the production of clocks, Royal made the bell has its own style and unique. The imperial watch is a gorgeous flower of Western culture typified by the missionary soil and the oriental culture represented by the emperor who came into contact with the Qing palace. Not long after the timepieces were introduced into China, the Chinese also began to experiment. Qing Dynasty clocks began about Shunzhi period. According to Kangxi Emperor: Junji ten years or so, Emperor Shunzhi get a small self-timer bell, on the approval of the moment, not far from. Later I got a slightly bigger chime, I really like it, so I copied and succeeded. However, due to technical reasons, the clock gears and clockwork are not too fine, not accurate when you go. The situation was different during the Kangxi period. Emperor Kangxi had many times preached to the Cantonese local people to recruit skilled Western people to serve in the palace, including specialists in doctors, astronomy, mathematics, and mechanics, of which the skilled watchmakers In the important part. Not only that, local officials in Guangdong also made good enamel in Guangdong, watches and clocks artists also sent to the palace, thus ensuring a high standard of watchmaking in the palace. At that time, the clock in the palace reached what level of production, with the words of Kangxi is "recently done far stronger than the Western clocks." During the period of Yongzheng and Qianlong, social stability and abundant treasury provided the conditions for the pursuit of extravagant life and enjoyment. During this period, the manufacture of clocks and watches in Qing Dynasty reached an all-time high. The yield was large and the production was fine. It was comparable to the timepieces of the timepieces of Europe. Until now, the National Palace Museum (microblogging) collection of watches and clocks are also produced during this period. The institution responsible for the production of the clocks and watches in Qing Palace is the clock office located at the office of Yang Xindian, the former bell ring. In the forty-nine years of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1710), Emperor Kangxi devoted himself to a self-proclaimed chime of Wanxian Ching Shou which was made by a bell-making workshop subordinated to Chime. When the clock was born from the time of the clock, it became a specialized agency and reached its peak when the clock was made in Qianlong. At that time, there were more than 100 employees working in the clock, and the quantity and quality of the clocks produced were all other Unable to match the dynasties. Although the production of watches and clocks after the Jiaqing less and less, but this institution has been as a very important palace in the luxury goods and continued until the late 1924, the emperor Pu Yi out of the palace, the clock's mission was finally concluded. The staff engaged in the production of watches and clocks in the palace are mainly foreign missionaries, recruited craftsmen and bell eunuchs. Eunuchs are the most basic workforce in the clocks in the palace, under the status of foreign missionaries and campers. Eunuchs also have eunuchs, according to the order from high to low as eunuchs eunuchs, eunuchs, eunuchs eunuchs. These people walked at the court to form a missionary - recruited for craftsmen - do eunuchs such technical echelon, a more technologically complete watchmaking group, is the palace watchmaking rely on the existence and development of the foundation. Following the emperor's will to make all sorts of timepieces to meet the needs of the palace was the most important task of carving the clock. The general first proposed by the emperor's basic intent and specific requirements, or by the Minister of Home Affairs based on an example to play, artisans accordingly design, after the approval of the same production. For the work of the clock, the emperors often participate and interfere, especially watchmaking. The emperors' attention to watch making is manifold, not to mention some specific details. From the design of the watch style to the materials used in the production, they have to go through their modifications and approvals. A large number of Qing archives provide direct evidence for the study of the influence of Qing dynasty on the manufacture of clocks and watches in Qing Dynasty. The participation of the emperor is extremely important here, and it is for this reason that the clocks and lanterns made by the Qing palace were called "imperial clocks," and new varieties like Geng Chung appeared. There are many kinds of "imperial bell" made by the bell. Now, the imperial bell we made is made in the Qianlong period. Most of the wooden bell is mainly made of wooden structure. The main timber used is precious rosewood. Some clock is simply the epitome of the palace building. Imperial clock bell plate also has many features, and more "Qianlong Year" models, especially copper yellow flower pottery painted enamel plate, showing Royal clock luxury and elegance. The large collection of watches in the palace is inevitable in the course of its use. As a result, the tasks of remodeling, repairing and maintaining are very numerous for craftsmen who make clocks. This includes both shape recovery, change, but also the movement adjustment, replacement. In particular, Emperor Qianlong, keen on clocks and other devices have a keen interest, and even how to transform, how to repair, how to maintain him to participate in the views. After all, this kind of work has never stopped. Through the transformation of the movement, and change the appearance of the watch style, the specific decoration, you can use less investment, add a new watch varieties, so that the emperors to maintain a long-lasting interest in watches and clocks. Emperor intervention in the production of watches and clocks is also reflected in the reward and punishment system through awards and punishments to ensure the quality of watch making. The artisans and eunuchs, who are well-versed in the work of the emperor, tend to appreciate silver gifts, which often exceed their wages and become an important source of income for them. On the contrary, if you do not do a good job, you can not afford to pay if you do not work well. If you do not pay enough, you should pay for the loss, "without preemption," and some even be returned to your country of origin. The emperor's participation and strict rewards and punishments make the palace Manufacture of watches become the leader in the same period works. With the hard work of the Western missionaries in the Qing dynasty, the imperial bells at the clock were technologically and technically comparable to the Western clocks at that time; precisely because of the Emperor's own involvement in the work of the clock and Requirements, it makes Imperial made bell has its own style and unique. The royal system made by the department made a gorgeous flower of Western culture represented by the missionaries and the oriental culture represented by the emperor as a result of the Qing Dynasty's contact. China's emperors have the most collectors of watches A large number of beautiful clocks continue to enter the palace, so that the Royal Palace and Royal Garden 囿 become the most concentrated collection of watches and clocks, the emperor became the largest collector of watches. In China, the palace and its garden is the place with the most clocks and watches, the emperor is the watch after the most important consumer groups. For the emperors, watches are both timepieces and furnishings; both high-end and practical objects, as well as exquisite masterpieces of art, so do everything possible to search for snares. Affected by a variety of watches brought together by many ways in the palace. Talking about the source of the clock in the palace, the most important thing is the tribute and procurement. With the expansion of diplomatic relations with the Qing Dynasty, there have been continual foreign missions to China. When choosing gifts for the emperor, they are often struggling with their thoughts. The timepiece, which represents both the technological level of the time and the emperor's interest and attention, often becomes the first choice of gifts. In this regard, the most typical of Russia. For example, when Sa Wa Luqi Qi Vladislavich sent China to Emperor Yongzheng several pieces of the watch, a jeweled gold watch with a female Czar enamel, made in the UK, valued at 1600 rubles ; Another Turkish-style gold watch, 700 rubles; a British wall clock that rings the clock, can play twelve songs, with the statue of Peter the Great, the clock above a crystal ball, 700 rubles; a French gold-plated copper wall clock , 400 rubles. In the meantime, various missions dispatched to China by other European countries also use timepieces as gifts. The most typical one is the Macartney mission to China in the Qianlong period. According to the British staff who attended the mission at the time, the British side was rather cautious about choosing gifts. Among these gifts, "the gift that best describes the level of modernization in your country is an astronomical geographical music clock." This is a composite astronomical timer. Not only does it report the month, the day and the hour at any time, but it can also be used to understand the universe, telling people that the Earth is just a tiny part of the vast universe that no longer exists. In addition, there is an eight-hour gift clock, in addition to timekeeping, but also played 12 pieces of ancient British music, was made by the London mechanic George Clarke, when the price is very expensive. These gifts, including watches are directly into the Qing palace, a palace clock watch an important part of the collection. Every major holiday or emperor's birthday, officials from all over the country have to be included in the table to show their congratulations, tribute to the local products are mostly local products, of course, ultimately, the so-called auspicious objects, Kit Kat. Many of the timepieces in the Qing Dynasty were acquired in this way. The emperors' demand for Western clocks was fed back to the western watch industry through acquisition officials and middlemen. Shrewd western watch makers spotted China's huge market for dumping their products, they display their superb skills, study Chinese tastes, create a large number of watches and clocks suitable for China's aesthetic concept, specifically for China. Western watch industry's initiative to cater to the needs of the Chinese emperor and Chinese style has facilitated the installation of officials and merchants and accelerated the flow of Western timepieces to the Qing court. Through these channels, a large number of beautiful clocks continue to enter the palace, so that the Royal Palace and Royal Garden 囿 became the most concentrated collection of watches and clocks, the emperor became the owner of the largest collection of watches. The reason why a large number of watches flowing into the Qing Dynasty, and the Empress on the demand for watches are closely linked. In China, the palace and its garden is the place with the most clocks and watches, the emperor is the watch after the most important consumer groups. The importance of time and time-measuring instruments is self-evident. In ancient China, rulers often linked time and time instruments to imperial power and political power. Under the control of such ideologies, The huge chimes placed in the temple and imperial temple were regarded by the rulers of Qing Dynasty as important ceremonial devices. Even the dynastic ritual schema, which was written in Qianlong's 24th year (1759) Watches and clocks as an important etiquette income. Of course, can be included in the etiquette of the watch is very small, the vast majority of watches are used as a daily necessities. The collection of watches in the palace is mainly used for the furnishings in the palace and garden. Clockwork and furnishings are divided into perennial furnishings and the New Year's day furnishings, the former is basically permanent, basically no longer move the clock in a place after the move, while the latter is temporary, only festivals furnishings, to foil auspicious holiday festivals Atmosphere, after the New Year income in the library. During the Yongzheng period, the furnishings in the palace clocks were fairly common. For example, all the important palaces had timepieces for clocks. Palace House file mentioned in the furnishings of watches and clocks in the palace are: the palace of the Thai Temple, Yang Xin Temple, Cheng Huatang; Chang Chun Park frost Pavilion; Yuanmingyuan Penglai Island, Si Yi Tong, million words room, with rhyme As we can see, the palace and Yuanmingyuan are the places where the clocks and clocks are most frequently used for display and furnishings. This is consistent with that of the Yongzheng Emperor's daily life and political activities. Qianlong period, the rapid increase in the number of clocks, Gongzhong and Park 陈 clocks furnishings increased density, a house furnishings multiple watches is very common, according to the Qing "furnishings file" records, 16 as many. Clocks in the furnishings as each watch because of its type, size, in the palace has a corresponding position. Such as the bell more symmetrical leaning against the wall standing on the door, both in line with the Chinese people about the symmetry of all things, but also make a long sense of stability of the cheese bell. Partition wall table is naturally set by the wall. Hanging bottle table mostly in the wall, the column furnishings. Even the same kind of watch, because of the size of the points, the location is also different. To the most common clock as an example, a large clock with the clock on the ground; medium-sized clocks and more in the table, cases, articles, several; small clock placed on the kang, throne next to or on the windowsill. In addition, some watches have quite strong seasonal furnishings, such as fan clock. The Qing emperor to mechanical fan as one of the Qutulaifu wind appliances, summer palace and more furnishings, after sunstroke income library. The emperor left the palace to visit other places, since the bell should be sent to the eunuch to carry clocks and waiters. Corresponding to this, the emperor's transport vehicles such as Queen's sedan chair, boat, saddle and so on are equipped with watches and clocks. Sedan is the emperor's most commonly used means of transport. Due to the limitations of the sedan space and the bumpy road, the clock is not suitable for the car seated furnishings. There are about two kinds of coupe furnishings table, a shape like a pocket watch, but larger than the pocket watch, a ring can be hung; the other is hanging bottle table, you can be fixed on the inner wall of the chair. Royal boat used boat furnishings are mostly clock. The emperor moved out by the eunuchs when embarking on board the ship and, after arriving at his destination, the eunuchs took them up for safekeeping. The emperor's royal saddle is generally decorated with gorgeous, decorated with a variety of precious stones, some in the saddle's front central embedded small table. Forty-one years of Qianlong North Saddle stock "on the saddle," the twenty-seven inlaid with watches, of which twenty-three are made by the Office of the Making, four are Minister contributed. The saddle clock usually does not store with the saddle, but kept by the bell, need to be saddle and then sent by the clock to send staff, with the use of security. Chime bells not only by the emperor's favorite, but also for the concubines keen furnishings. Therefore, the reward Princess watches are common. In the first year of February of the first year of the Taoist Light, the eunuchs ordered the eunuchs to re-show the queen from the library. The number of watches and clocks owned by the Empress and the Empress during the Qing dynasty was quite impressive. For example, there were three sets of clocks in the relics of a concubine of Emperor Qianlong, ten in size and one in crown, and one imperial concubine of Jiaqing actually had a clock of nine, Table twenty-seven. The popularity of clocks in the palace is surprising, which can be proved from the large number of extant watches in the Forbidden City. In the late Qing Dynasty used to hold a variety of small objects contained in a set of activities, watches are indispensable, and these watches are gold, silk, decorative variety, sizes, sizes It is easy to put it down. Clocks, exchanges between China and foreign countries, an important link In 1771, Voltaire wrote a letter to the Russian Empress Catherine II, strongly recommended the establishment of a store on the Sino-Russian border to specialize in sales of Ferney watches and clocks, and opened 12 to 13 rubles per silver table, Gold watches do not exceed the tempting price of 30 to 40 rubles each. Although Voltaire's plan eventually failed to achieve, but it is not hard to see from the Chinese market for the great temptation of the Swiss watch origin. It should be said that the clock plays an important role in the early exchange of visits between Sweden and China. Britain is one of the earliest countries in the world to manufacture clocks and watches. Its trade activities with China are also prominent. This is partly due to the development of watchmaking in Britain itself. By the late 17th century clocks were already an important British export, and London became a center of clock and watchmaking. Its clocks and watches were very popular. Its products were unrivaled worldwide and clearly dominated watch trade across Europe and the East. On the other hand, taking advantage of the strong overseas expansion of the United Kingdom, the British East India Company almost monopolized the maritime trade of early Europe and the East and provided extremely favorable conditions and guarantees for the eastward transport of the British clock and watch. More importantly, the British watch industry has a keen and long-term vision, has been very concerned about this huge market in China, do everything possible to cater to the aesthetic taste of Chinese people, produced for the Chinese people enjoy the taste of the Oriental market watches and clocks, which is in the After visiting the Forbidden City watch collection will have a profound impression. The number of British clocks collected in the Forbidden City is very impressive. There are many kinds of watches in the Palace, including large antique clocks with large ornate ornamentation and small pocket watches that are exquisitely crafted and portable. Most of the British self-chime bell copper-plated, gold-plated shell with red, green, blue, yellow, white and other stone mosaic inlay. Bright gold is the basic color, even the black wooden bell, the border, foot foot, the top is also covered with gold-plated floral ornaments, animals, giving a sense of magnificent. This is consistent with the prevalence of interior decoration in Britain's nobles. Modeling eclectic, all kinds of architecture, pastoral scenery, natural landscape, accompanied by water law, Hua Hua, Hua Hua, running, running, Duck and other structural changes in the complex mechanical devices, static and dynamic, full of fun. Small pocket watch is mostly copper-plated gold case, or carved fine patterns, or inlaid colorful lively and charming micro-painted figures and landscape enamel, with a beautiful bracelet. Copper movement, the rear plywood is often 錾 engraved smooth decoration, showing the delicate and colorful everywhere. In many watch dial, movement plywood more than the producer name and origin, only from the Forbidden City with the existing knowledge of watches and clocks, up to as many as forty or fifty. Qing dynasty, especially the Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties, was the most prosperous period in the Qing dynasty. In the meantime, there were many French missionaries who were proficient in clockwork and served the court. They became the most important designers of Qing dynasty's watchmaking by virtue of superb techniques And technical guidance, for the early development of Chinese clocks made an important contribution. China and Switzerland have had long exchanges in the field of watchmaking and trade. In 1707, Franzis Louis Stadlin, a Swiss ancestor of the Zu, became the famous watchmaker in the palace. In order to sell Swiss watches to China through middlemen, in 1771 Voltaire wrote to Russian Empress Catherine II, strongly recommending the establishment of a store on the Sino-Russian border specifically for the sale of watches and clocks from Ferney, Out of every 12 to 13 silver rubles, gold watches each not exceeding the attractive price of 30 to 40 rubles. Although Voltaire's plan eventually failed to achieve, but it is not hard to see from the Chinese market for the great temptation of the Swiss watch origin. It should be said that the clock plays an important role in the early exchange of visits between Sweden and China. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were the heyday of the feudal society in China. Social stability, an unprecedented accumulation of wealth, for the pursuit of extravagant life, to enjoy the conditions provided. Huge wealth, a considerable part of the luxury consumption. Watch due to its sophisticated design, unique features, beautiful and luxurious decoration as a luxury representative. At that time all walks of life have a strong curiosity and possessiveness, the emperors are no exception. Moreover, the emperors' pursuit of the quirks decided that the palace clock collection is quite ornamental. Most of the Swiss clocks hidden in the Forbidden City are chimeras and elaborate pocket watches of smaller volume. The clock is generally modeled on the natural landscapes such as architecture or the mountain. In addition to the timekeeping, it is also equipped with changing machinery such as water law, bird sound and magic to give a fresh and refreshing feeling. Most of the pocket watches are so-called "Chinese market watches" made specifically for the Chinese market to cater to the aesthetic needs of Chinese consumers. The appearance of beautifully decorated, diverse shapes, unique ingenuity, in addition to the commonly used round, there are fan-shaped, lock, fruit, insects and other shapes. The case is generally gold, silver, copper and other materials with gold, and some in the case painted with figures, flowers, birds and other vivid enamel painting, and inlaid with precious stones, such as pearls, diamonds. Its movement is commonly known as the "big eight", all the plywood carved or drawn exquisitely detailed pattern, extremely luxurious. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were the heyday of the feudal society in China. Social stability, an unprecedented accumulation of wealth, in pursuit of extravagant life, to enjoy the conditions provided. Huge wealth, a considerable part of the luxury consumption. Due to its exquisite design, unique functions, beautiful and precious decoration as a representative of luxury goods, all walks of life at that time had a strong sense of curiosity and possessiveness, and the emperors were no exception. Because of this, the palace clock collection formed a distinctive feature. The pursuit of the pursuit of the emperor of the palace clock collection quite ornamental. As mentioned earlier, the emperors of the Qing dynasty, especially Qianlong emperor, regarded the novelty as the first criterion. In a large number of Qing archives, more than one record of Emperor Qianlong asked the minister to offer the form of watches in all its forms. The style here refers to the kind of watches on the various mechanical changes device. Such as referring to the day card, playing music, turning the water, leaving people, boxing, bathing, traveling, and now the Pacific surplus, change the name of the wonderful thank you, the phenomenon of nature's almost all kinds of sports. Qianlong's infatuation with these kitsch reached a rare level, so that Wang Dahong, a foreigner summoned to Beijing as a clockmaker, came to the conclusion that "the kings needed the kiwifruit rather than the clock". Most of the watches and clocks left by the palace are equipped with various kinds of mechanical stuff, and some even overwhelm the clock and clock functions into the most important position, it should not be accidental. The involvement of the emperors in the production of clocks and watches determined that the timepieces of the palace of Qing Dynasty had a very high level of craftsmanship. Ministers into the royal palace or made watches, the final recipient of the emperor himself. However, the emperors' demand for timepieces is rather harsh. In the Qing archives, they often have been declared by the gods for being dismissed as incompatible with the emperor's taste or because of their inhumanity. Such as: Fifty-seven years of Qianlong (1792), the Office of the organizers made the pavilion style writers wrong, Qianlong furious, and "no expense." Under such circumstances, both the bell-maker and the bell-maker must be meticulous and each process must be accompanied by the finest craftsmen. Watches and clocks, carving, embedding, inlaid, plated with all kinds of work must be completed through full cooperation, therefore, the collection of the clocks and watches are Qingyuan boutique. Superb craftsmanship in the palace collection of watches has been fully reflected. Without hesitate to invest heavily in the determination of the Qing clock and watch materials, with rich royal style. The emperors never stopped spending huge sums of money collecting and producing watches. Such as the impeachment of officials who set up tribute: "It seems so good looking for a few more, then there are large and good, also find a few pieces, not necessarily a price." Another example, Article used to do five more clocks, clockwork run out, but also enumerated Guangdong Guangdong Customs procurement of good steel two thousand pounds sent to Beijing, in order to gradually create a living purposes. All of these provide a solid economic foundation and material conditions for the collection and production of royal clocks and watches. Most of the existing clocks in Qing dynasty use sophisticated materials, and some are embedded with pearls, diamonds, jade and other precious stones, especially the royal clocks of the founding offices. They are mostly carved into precious pieces of rosewood, such as tables, pavilions, pavilions and pagodas Other architectural styles, giving a solemn and elegant feeling. Forbidden City watch collection value For the clocks and clocks hidden in the Forbidden City, people used to study and describe only in terms of practical timekeeping functions or the magnificent appearance. In fact, through the history of the palace clocks, it can be clearly seen that the clocks and watches have played in the palace The multiple cultural roles, their value is far from fully explored. The first is its mechanical and technological value. The continuous improvement of watchmaking technology has never been carried out in isolation and requires the inventions of astronomy, mechanics, physics, metal smelting and other disciplines as the guarantee of knowledge and technical support, invention of pendulum, clockwork, hairspring and various escapement devices Make the clock more accurate. At the same time, higher requirements for timing accuracy have also continually motivated producers to improve their metalworking technology and lathes to find better materials, which has a significant impact on the development of other manufacturing industries. It can be said that the clock breaks the intangible obstacle between all kinds of knowledge, wisdom and technology and becomes the real "mother of machines." The clocks in the court of the Ming and Qing dynasties were the brilliant works at the peak of the history of human beings. Through these clocks and watches, we can understand the level of development of the timepieces and their related fields of the time. In particular, the arrival of Western missionaries who have mastered the technology of making clocks makes the clocks and watches made in China go hand-in-hand with the West in a very short period of time and has been invented. The more successful designs and development succeeded example. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties Imperial Palace collection of scientific instruments, watches and clocks is a very high content of science and technology category. Followed by the value of its arts and crafts. Most of the clocks in the Forbidden City are unique in design, unique in style, meticulous in production, and are constantly improving in quality. They are often carved and inlaid in a variety of craftsmanship. They have a rather high technological level and show distinctive style and features in different countries, regions and times. Some can even fill gaps in research in related fields. For example, the Forbidden City collection contains dozens of timepieces made by the famous 18th century British watchmaker James Cox, which are rare at home and abroad. Some of these watches are entirely Western style, while others are integrated The characteristics of the oriental culture reflect that the Western watch industry at that time catered for the demand and aesthetic taste of China and were the most authoritative first-hand materials for studying it. Another example is the prevalence of transparent enamel in Guangzhou during the Qing Dynasty, colorful, sophisticated production, is the Guangzhou artisan to follow the Western technology, combined with the characteristics of our ethnic art created a craft, a large number of watches and clocks made in Guangzhou to use. However, the history of this unique handicraft variety has now become rather vague. There are no sites for workshops in Guangzhou, and a few records have been written about it. The possession of the Qing Dynasty, Guangzhou, but the clock left a large number of finished products, for the wide enamel research provides the most concentrated samples. It should be said that the clocks and watches hidden in the Forbidden City are important materials for studying the arts and crafts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the western modeling arts.