14.0 cm (cup height) × 8.5 cm (base diameter) × 9.5 cm (candle stand width) × 30.6 cm (total height)
Starting the Yongzheng period, the Qing dynasty established the annual First Stroke Ceremony at midnight on New Year’s Day to welcome the coming year. By the Qianlong period, the ceremony and its related objects had become standardized. The emperor would proceed to the Eastern Warmth Chamber in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where a table would be set up by a bright window. There, he would pour “tusu” wine into a golden chalice, light a jade candle, and hold the “Brush Verdant for Ten Thousand Years” to write auspicious phrases in vermilion and ink—praying for peace and prosperity in the coming year. He would also review the annual calendar, symbolizing the imperial duty of governing with wisdom and diligence.
The National Palace Museum’s “Gold Chalice of Eternal Stability” and “Jade Candlestick of ‘Yuzhu Changdiao’ (Constant Harmony)” were both crafted during the Qianlong reign. The “Gold Chalice of Eternal Stability” symbolizes the enduring stability of the empire. It is made of gilt metal in the form of a tripod ding, featuring kui dragon handles and a base consisted of the heads, trunks, and feet of three elephants. The body is intricately engraved with bound precious floral patterns, with pearls and red and blue gemstones embedded at the center of each flower, set against a background of kingfisher feather inlay. The rim is adorned with a continuous meander pattern, while the central panels on either side bear inscriptions in seal script: “Gold Chalice of Eternal Stability” and “Made during the Qianlong reign.” The “Jade Candlestick of ‘Yuzhu Changdiao’” symbolizes favorable weather for the crops. It is carved from jade and features tiered floral candle trays, with the larger tray at the top. The center of this tray is inscribed in seal script with the phrase “Made during the Qianlong reign, Jade Candlestick of Constant Harmony.” The upper section of the candle stand’s stem is adorned with string patterns, while the lower section features shallow-relief bound foliage designs. The base is securely set into a purple sandalwood stand, decorated with three intricately carved floral motifs at the corners. Both the “Gold Chalice of Eternal Stability” and “Jade Candlestick of Constant Harmony” were among the most representative ceremonial objects of the First Stroke Ceremony, embodying Emperor Qianlong’s prayers for a prosperous reign, national stability, and the well-being of his people in the coming year.