53 | A LATE MING DYNASTY SOAPSTONE SEAL First half of the 17th century - with a fitted 18th century Qing dynasty carved zitan hardwood box China The seal is that of Hou Tongzeng, a late Ming dynasty official in the city of Jiading. It is a near cube in form, with various old chips and scars, and made of Shoushan stone from Fujian province. The calligraphy on four sides is an addition by Qu Zhongyong. The fitted zitan box is designed so that the deep cover opens at the base of the box - leaving a triangular jagged edge on two sides. This latter feature is echoed in the design of the carved decoration - where interlocking key frets form a diamond pattern, enclosing various flowering sprigs that are representative of the four seasons. Size of box: 2 3/8" square / 6 cm square Hou Tongzeng (1591- 1645) was a late Ming dynasty official and a native of Jiading in Jiangsu - in the Jiangnan region. The city was the scene of a savage massacre - of men, women and children - by the Qing armies, under the turncoat General Li Chengtong. This took place in August 1645 during the wars between the Ming and Qing armies. After the war - in an attempt to gain the trust and confidence of the defeated Ming dynasty supporters - the first Qing Emperor commissioned a book to record the names and deeds of the warriors and officials who had given their lives during the war, thereby recognising their patriotism. Hou Tongzeng was ranked in the third level of loyalty, his seal collected by the palace authorities, and a fitted box made in which to store it. The seal later came into the hands of another resident of Jiading, Qu Zhongrong (1769-1842); the calligraphy on the four sides of the seal is his work. He was an official in the Imperial household, who rose to become first secretary to the Governor of Hunan province. He was also a famous painter and sculptor - and author of various works on jade carving, seal stones and inscriptions - as well as being brother in law to the famous historian Qian Daixin (1728-1804). He recorded the story of Mr Hou's patriotism, and signed his own name on one of the four sides. The text inscribed in draft script around the four sides of the seal has some parts missing, though all but one character can be read; however, this missing character has been identified through the context of those that are there. The inscription may be read as follows: Hou from Jiading, Duke of Loyalty and Integrity of the former Ming dynasty, obtained his jinshi (scholar worthy of entering the presence of the emperor) degree in the yichou year of the Tianqi era (1625) and rose in office as high as a zuo tongzheng (senior vice president in the office of document transmission). In the yiyou year of the Shunzhi era, seventh lunar month (august), together with Huang Tao'an (Huang Chunyao 1605-1645) and Gulian (younger brother Huang Yuanyao - d. 1645) was martyred defending the city (of Jiading). For details, see the (jiading) district local history and the Qianding shengchao xunjie chuchen lu (Shu Hede, Yu Mingzhong, et al, by authorization of his majesty, a record of martyred ministers of the vanquished (Ming) dynasty) - recorded by the later student of this same district Qu Zhongrong (1769-1842). With thanks to both Hugh Moss for providing detailed information about the seal - and Professor Richard Lynn from Toronto University who translated the inscription.