Ruyi sceptre, carved bamboo, China, Qing dynasty, 1740-1790 Ruyi sceptre Qing dynasty 1740-1790 The word ruyi literally means 'as you wish'. Here several auspicious symbols - peaches, bats, Buddha's hand citrons, pomegranates and cicadas - convey the wish 'may you fulfil all the wishes'. Carved bamboo with silk tassel Museum no. FE.21-1976 [2009] JU-I SCEPTRE Bamboo root carved with auspicious fruits, animals and insects CHINESE; 18th century FE21-1976 [pre 2005] Bamboo ruyi sceptre, handle shaped as a branch of partly decayed wood with foliage and fruiting sprays of pomegranate, peach and Buddha's citron; a large insect on the pomegranate spray and a bat on the peach spray. The head is formed from a pair of Buddha's citrons with foliage and a single bat. Attached to the end of the handle is a long double tassel in blue, red and green silk executed mainly in knotwork.