A rare gift has taken pride of place in the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo.
万圣龙车
DRAGON CHARIOT OF TEN THOUSAND SAGES
Serpentine Jade 蛇纹岩玉.
Carved with Chinese symbols comprising of 188 dragons (auspicious), 18 phoenixes (wish-fulfilled) and 36 bats (good fortune). There are also 155 strands of beads.
As a ceremonial object only, stone chariots were used on the occasion of the grand birthdays of Emperors, Empresses and Empress Dowagers during the Qing Dynasty. Ministers and officials would use this type of chariot to pay homage to Royal birthday celebrations.
A chariot similar to this one is on display at the Lujhou District Forbidden City Museum in New Taipei City in Taiwan. That chariot is made of a different type of Jade known as Nanyang Jade (南陽玉). It is reputed to be the chariot used during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng 咸豐帝(1831-1861).
This chariot is 2800mm in height, 3080mm in length and 1800mm in width and weighs approx 2.2 tonne.
Donated by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, NSW.
GDM 1802