Ruyi (scepter)

A ''ruyi'' () is a Chinese curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. The "ruyi" image frequently appears as a motif in Asian art.

A traditional ''ruyi'' has a long S-shaped handle and a head fashioned like a fist, cloud, or lingzhi mushroom. ''Ruyi'' are constructed from diverse materials. For example, the Palace Museum in Beijing has nearly 3,000 ''ruyi'' variously made of gold, silver, iron, bamboo, wood, ivory, coral, rhinoceros horn, lacquer, crystal, jade, and precious gems.

Word

The Chinese term ''ruyi'' is a compound of ''ru'' 如 "as; like; such as; as if; for example; supposing; be like; be similar; accord with" and ''yi'' 意 "wish; will; desire; intention; suggestion; thought; idea; meaning; imagination".

Standard Chinese uses ''ruyi'' either as a stative verb meaning "as desired; as one wishes, as one likes; according to one's wishes; following your heart's desires", or as an adjective meaning "satisfied, pleased, happy, comfortable". The word is combined with ''Suanpan'' ( zh, c=算盤, p=Suànpán) "abacus" in the expression ''ruyi suanpan'' to mean considering things only from a positive perspective; to be overly optimistic in one's plans.

Chinese ''ruyi'' was borrowed as a Buddhist loanword into other East Asian languages such as Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, with corresponding Sino-Xenic pronunciations.

History

Chinese classic texts from the Former Han dynasty (206 BC – 24 AD) contain the earliest usages of the word ''ruyi''. For example, the ''Shiji'' history uses it both literally for "as desired" and for the given name of Liu Ruyi ( zh, c=劉如意, p=Liú rúyì) (d. 195 BC), who was the son of Emperor Gaozu of Han and Concubine Qi. The '' Hanshu'' biography of the '' fangshi'' astrologer and mathematician Jing Fang (78–37 BCE) quotes him using ''ruyi'' meaning "as you wish" in an audience with Emperor Yuan of Han (tr. Edkins 1904: 238), "I fear that though your Majesty acts in this way you will still not obtain what accords with your wish."

The anthropologist Berthold Laufer (1912:336) said that the Chinese accounts of the ''ruyi'' are "more unsatisfactory" than for any other object in Chinese culture. Scholars have proposed two basic theories for the origin of the ''ruyi'', writes Kieschnick (2003:141). The former is that ''ruyi'' originated from Sanskrit ''anuruddha'' "a ceremonial scepter" used by Buddhist monks in India, who later brought it to China, transliterated as ''Analu'' ( zh, c=阿那律, p=Ā nà lǜ) or translated as ''ruyi''. The latter theory is that ''ruyi'' originated as a backscratcher in early China, and was amalgamated with the Buddhist symbol of authority. Davidson (1950:239) suggests "as desired" signifies a backscratcher owing to "its apparent ability to reach otherwise inaccessible areas of the human body".

During the Later Han dynasty (25–220 AD) and Jin dynasty (266–420 AD), literati and nobles often held ''ruyi'' ( zh, c=談柄, p=Tán bǐng) during conversations and other social occasions. It was called a ''tanbing'' 談柄 "conversation baton" (cf. the Native American talking stick) and was used much like the ''zhuwei'' ( zh, c=麈尾, p=Zhǔ wěi) "deer tail" (analogous to a fly whisk), which practitioners of the ''qingtan'' ( zh, c=淸談, p=Qīng tán) "pure conversation" movement popularized during the Six Dynasties period (220–589 AD). Besides the ''ruyi'', other objects used as a ''tanbing'' "discussion stick" included the ''tanshan'' ( zh, c=談扇, p=Tán shàn) "discussion fan" and ''tanzhu'' ( zh, c= 談麈, p=Tán zhǔ) made from the tail of a Père David's deer. Davidson (1950:247) says "there seems no doubt that the primary and original function of the ''ju-i'' was that of a scepter qualifying the holder to "take the floor." Its origin was probably in India where the branch of a tree seems to have served a similar function. Any other purposes the ''ju-i'' served, such as a note tablet, honorific insignia, good luck gift, or even backscratcher, were merely later accruals."

The ca. 554 AD '' Weishu'' history records a story that when Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei (r. 471–499 AD) wanted to retire from the throne, he tested his sons by letting them choose among a number objects, and the one who selected a bone ''ruyi'' (symbolizing political rule) became Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei (r. 500–515). Kieschnick (2003:144) concludes "that by the end of the sixth century, not only was the ''ruyi'' common at court, but it had even begun to take on emblematic significance as the mark of a ruler." Although the ''ruyi'' symbolized imperial political power, it differed from the Western royal scepter because Chinese officials and monks commonly used it.

In Buddhist usage, holding a ''ruyi'' when teaching gave the holder the right to talk. The biography of Tiantai Buddhist patriarch Zhiyi (538–597) says that when he was teaching '' Prajna'' in place of his teacher Huisi ( zh, c= 慧思, p=Huì sī
) (515–577), Huisi would sit holding a ''ruyi'' in his hand (Davidson 1950:244).

The (c. 886) ''Duyang zabian'' ( zh, c= 杜陽雜編, p=Dù yáng zá biān
), which is a collection of Tang dynasty (618–907) stories, records that Emperor Wenzong presented an ivory ''ruyi'' to his tutor Li Xun ( zh, c= 李訓, p=Lǐ xùn
) (d. 835) and said (tr. Kieschnick 2003:145), "The ''ruyi'' may serve you as a lecture baton (''tanbing'')." The (945) ''Old Book of Tang'' biography of Li Xun (tr. Davidson 1950:247) says this occurred on a hot summer day and the emperor's ''ruyi'' present was made from "heat-repelling rhinoceros horn", which is believed to be cooling in traditional Chinese medicine. ''Ruyi'' were both emblems of power and tools of discourse.

Herbert Giles (1912:185) quoted the Song dynasty archaeologist Zhao Xigu ( zh, c= 趙希鵠 , p=Zhàoxīhú
) (d. 1240) that the ''ruyi'' "was originally made of iron, and was used 'for pointing the way' and also 'for guarding against the unexpected,' i.e. for self-defence. It was, in fact, a kind of blunt sword, and traces of basket-work are still to be found inside what must have been the sword-guard."

In the Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD), ''ruyi'' became popular as ornaments or gifts symbolizing blessings and good luck. The ca. 1627 AD ''Zhangwuzhi'' ( zh, c= 長物志 , p=cháng wù zhì
) "Treatise on Superfluous Things", by Ming painter Wen Zhenheng, discussed ''ruyi'' aesthetics.

The ''ruyi'' was used in ancient times to give directions or to protect oneself from the unexpected. It was for this reason that it was made or iron, and not on the basis of strictly aesthetic considerations. If you can obtain an old iron ''ruyi'' inlaid with gold and silver that sparkle now and then, and if it has an ancient dull color, this is the best. As for ''ruyi'' made of natural branches or from bamboo and so on, these are all worthless. (tr. Kieschnick 2003:151)

During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912 AD), ''ruyi'' scepters became luxuriant symbols of political power that were regularly used in imperial ceremonies, and were highly valued as gifts to and from the Emperor of China. Since 3 and 9 are considered lucky numbers in Chinese culture, Qing craftsmen elaborated the traditional handle and head type ''ruyi'' into two-headed ''sanjiang-ruyi'' ( zh, c= 三鑲如意 , p=Sān xiāng rúyì
) "3-inlay ''ruyi''" with precious stones set in both heads and middle of the handle and ''jiujiu-ruyi'' ( zh, c= 九九如意 , p=Jiǔjiǔ rúyì
) "9-9 ''ruyi''" presentational sets of nine. The Qianlong Emperor presented a ''ruyi'' to the British ambassador George Macartney in 1793, and in his description (quoted by Kieschnick 2003:139–140), "It is a whitish, agate-looking stone, about a foot and a half long, curiously carved, and highly prized by the Chinese, but to me it does not appear in itself to be of any great value."

During the historical evolution of Chinese ''ruyi'' "as desired", they have been used as backscratchers, ritual objects in Buddhism and later Daoism, pointers for public speakers, prized icons of political power and wealth, and auspicious gifts expressing best wishes.

Art

In Chinese art, ''ruyi'' scepters often appear as attributes of Buddhist saints and Daoist ''xian''. The god of prosperity Cai Shen ( zh, c= 財神 , p=Cáishén
) is often depicted holding a ruyi. Stylized repetitions of the shape are incorporated as a motif in the depiction of heavenly clouds. ''Ruyi'' symbolize achieving prosperity in '' fengshui'' practice. The ''ruyi'' shape appears as a motif in decorative knots, Oriental rug patterns, folk artifacts, and even modern corporate logos. Stylized ''ruyi'' often function as a kind of ante-fixae or palmette in traditional and modern architecture.

Two types of ''ruyi'' are seen in Chinese Buddhist art. The early ''ruyi'' was common in Buddhist sculpture and painting from the late Six dynasties (220–589) through the Tang dynasty (618–906). It was a slender stick, varying from about 15 to 24 inches, which widened and curved slightly at one end. Not only were these utensils frequently portrayed by artists and sculptors, but the Shōsōin treasure house of Tōdai-ji temple, in Nara, has preserved several 8th-century ''ruyi'' (Davidson 1950:242). The modern ''ruyi'', which first appeared in the art of the Song dynasty (960–1279) has two forms. The first type shows minor elaborations upon the basic slender-handled structure of the early ''ruyi'', but the slight curve at the top was exaggerated into a decorative ornament, a medallion-like form, frequently a stylized fungus. The second type of contemporary ''ruyi'' shows a radical change, in addition to the decorated end, two other smaller inlaid plaques or medallions, with one at the middle of the handle and the other at the base. Variations occur where the center medallion becomes a rectangle, or the second is omitted (Davidson 1950:242–243).

In early Chinese and Japanese Buddhist art, the bodhisattva Manjusri is usually depicted holding a sword (representing wisdom that cuts through ignorance), except in representations of his '' Vimalakirti Sutra'' discussion with the layman Vimalakirti

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases