Centuries-old imperial edict found in north China

SHIJIAZHUANG, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- A silk imperial edict dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was found in the city of Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, according to the local cultural relics protection authorities.

The 325-year-old relic, found in a rural household in Pingxiang County, is 1.6 meters long and 0.3 meters wide, with scripts written in both Chinese and Manchu languages.

The well-preserved imperial edict was issued to an official called Jia Ruji for his outstanding career performance and his honest and upright family tradition, said Shi Qingjun with the county's bureau of culture, radio, television, sports, and tourism.

The relic is of important reference value for studying the official system and the society of the Qing Dynasty, and also provides valuable information for the research on local history and culture, Jia said.