Step 1 of 4

A rich archive

Fig. 1. 乾隆四十三年, 各作成做活计清档, 六月 -- 㫖着將如意頂上蝙蝠劄去随勢做花紋柄上現有花紋磨平欽此

Fig. 1. 乾隆四十三年, 各作成做活计清档, 六月 -- 㫖着將如意頂上蝙蝠劄去随勢做花紋柄上現有花紋磨平欽此

By imperial decree: make the bat that sits on top of the ruyi more pronounced by following the relief that is already there. Smoothen the decorations that are already on its handle.

So read the Imperial Household Department’s records in the 43rd year of the Qianlong emperor 乾隆 (r. 1735-1796). The Imperial Household Department’s records note all the objects used by the imperial household, ranging from furniture to ruyi’s.
The archival records only attribute one sentence to the ruyi. Made in roughly 1770, the sceptre made a remarkable journey around the globe.[Cf Volume III]