Qing Imperial Ruyi
Ruyi, made of nephrite jade, decorated with flowers, bats, and a golden knot.
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Ruyi: from backscratcher to royal gift
story by Koen van der Lijn.This story tells the history of a thing that talks: the <em>ruyi</em> 如意. Centred around the ruyi possibly given to Lord Macartney by the Qianlong Emperor (r. 1736-1796), the story briefly explores the Qing Imperial Household Records on the object whilst highlighting gift giving by and to the Qing court.