At one time, Ju-i scepters were thought to have originated from back-scratchers. But according to modern scholars, they never had this function at all, but rather were tablets held by officials during audiences at the court.
In ancient China, officials would carry an ivory or bamboo tablet to write down the words of the emperor. These tablets were known as "hu", and were normally worn on the belt as a sign of rank. During the Yuan Dynasty, they gradually fell out of use and became merely symbolic of fortune and wealth.
This Ju-i scepter is 42.8 cm long and 8 cm wide. The jade is light green in color and a peach tree has been set at the top. The peaches (symbolic of long life) have been carved out of purple jade, the trunk out of beige jade, and the leaves out of green jade. Set alongside the trunk are yellow, red, ocher, blue, and green stones. Between the stones and the trunk a red coral bat has been inlaid. The bat is representative of health and longevity.
On the handle are a coral bat, narcissus (white jade flowers, green jade leaves, and emerald stalk), bamboo (green jade), and snow fungus carved of yellow jade, agate, and emerald. All of these are auspicious symbols of health, longevity, fortune and wealth.
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