班禅右旋白螺作琉球册封使镇船法物

Panchen's Dextral White Conch as the Conjuration for Ships of the Investiture Envoys to Ryukyu

六世班禅进献给乾隆的右旋白螺,曾被用作福康安东征台岛时的安船定风宝物;嘉庆初又用作遣往琉球册封大使赵文楷、李鼎元的封舟法物,赵、李各有诗文阐述此事,表现出清代官方涉海活动的一些独特做法。

The dextral white conch,as a tribute paid by the Sixth Panchen to Emperor Qianlong,was once used as a treasure for blessing a safe and sound sea trip of Fu Kang'an’s eastward expedition to Taiwan.At the beginning of Emperor Jiaqing’s ruling stage,the treasure was treated as the conjuration for ships of the investiture envoys to Ryukyu.The two envoys,Zhao Wenkai and Li Dingyuan mentioned it in their literary works respectively.The practice showed certain characteristics on marine issues carried out by the Qing Government.