Chinese jade
Chinese jade refers to the
Jade was prized for its
These uses gave way after the Three Kingdoms period to Buddhist practices and new developments in Taoism such as alchemy. Nonetheless, jade remained part of traditional Chinese medicine and an important artistic medium.
Name
The
The
History
Jade has been used in virtually all periods of
There have been several main Neolithic jade working centers.[13] The first known centre is known as the Liangzhu culture (c. 3300 – c. 2200 BC).[13] This centre took place in the Lake Tai District.[13] The jades of this period were primarily small items of personal adornment, such as small discs strung onto necklaces.[13] Typically, the jade was polished on its surface and perforated.[13] Ritual jades and personal ornamental jade of different shapes began to show up during this time period.[13] This religious nature of jade is often evaluated as connections between spirituality and the Neolithic societal structure that jade was produced in.[7]
The second known centre is the Yangshao culture. In the 21st century, a series of jade processing workshops that dates back 5,000 years have been unearthed in Henan province, with two of the larger workshops each covering more than 120 square meters.[14]
The third jade centre is known as Longshan culture and arose in 2500 BC.[13] The centre was situated in China's east coast.[13] The jade objects found in these centres were ritualistic implements, such as axes, knives, and chisels.[13] There is a suggestion of curvilinear anthropomorphic images.[13] A distinctive carving technique was used to create the fine raised relief of the anthropomorphic images.[13]
The fourth known jade centre is known as the Hongshan culture (c. 3800 – c. 2700 BC).[13] The centre was situated in along the modern northeastern border of China.[13] The objects of this centre were typically pendants and large C-shaped ornaments.[13] Realistic figures of fish, turtles, cicadas, and owl-like birds with spread wings were typical carvings of the Hongshan culture.[13]
During
The
Jades of the
In the Zhou dynasty (1122–255 BC), the system of government had been completed and there were varying levels of departments within the government. Buttons of jade were utilized to differentiate the various levels of official society.[3]
Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to jade burial suits, reflecting the ancient Chinese belief that jades would confer immortality or prolong life and prevent decay. Jade spoons, spatulas, and pestles were used to make medicine in order for the jade to bestow its special virtues onto the medical compounds.[3]
From about the earliest
, and white more valuable than green.Jade became a favorite material for the crafting of Chinese writing materials, such as rests for calligraphy brushes, as well as the mouthpieces of some
The Qing dynasty was the final dynasty to gain political power within China, beginning in 1644 until 1911. Emperor Shengzu, who was also known as the Kangxi Emperor, ruled between c. 1662 until 1722. During the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, a distinctive pairs of lions or dogs composed of jade were commissioned by the dynastic family.[17]
Carving techniques
The hardness of jade presented an obstacle to those who wanted to carve it and turn it into various objects.[18] In order to quarry nephrite jade, fires were placed next to the jade to heat it and water was thrown against the rock's surface.[18] This rapid temperature change caused the jade to crack and wooden wedges were used to further break it down.[18] However, this quarrying technique also destroyed the jade.[18] The best way to extract jade in terms of it being in the best condition was to remove it from pebbles and boulders that were found in rivers.[18]
Neolithic jade workshops, also known as wasters, have been found in areas where jade usage was evident and popularized.[19] Most evidence of the development of jade technology and tools are taken from wasters and the discards and finished works present in these workshops.[19] From the traces of jade left at these sites, one can see the evolution of crafting procedures from chipping and polishing to more advanced drilling and slicing.[19] Due to the toughness of jade, the chipping and polishing procedures differ drastically from regular stone.[18] The only possible method of altering the shape or texture of this mineral dense rock hasn't seen much change from its introduction to modern day as both times remain reliant on the abrasion method.[18] In order to override the abrasiveness of jade and subdue it to molding, a jade-worker must use an object of higher abrasive factor.[18] In the early days of jade carving, quartz, a mineral with a high hardness level, was the object of choice.[18] At the beginning of the Song dynasty, a time of prolific technology growth, "red sand", with a hardness level of 7.5 became the dominant tool of the industry.[20] By 1939, and once more advanced carving tools had arisen, Peking jade carvers were already using six different types of abrasives: quartz, almandine garnet, corundum, carborundum, diamond, and a medium combining both carborundum and calcareous silt or loess.[21]
In terms of
Since jade was considered to be rare and strenuous to work with, pieces of jade were minimally changed and scrap pieces were reused in some way.[18] The microstructure especially, with its composition of densely packed fibrous crystals in a felted mass formation, contributed to the mineral's toughness and difficulty in carving.[21] Due to this toughness and unique manufacturing techniques, the jade objects studied suggest an organized labor structure consisting of skilled laborers and an education in the handling of particular tools.[7] Likewise, stylistic features and carving techniques seen throughout different Chinese cultures suggest a fluid transmission of knowledge between cultures rather than a border-bounded knowledge isolating cultures.[7]
The coloration of the jade was a factor taken into consideration when deciding what form the piece of jade would take.[18]
Categories
Jade objects of early ages (Neolithic through Zhou) fall into five categories: small decorative and functional ornaments such as
Six Ritual and Six Ceremonial Jades
The Six Ritual Jades originating in pre-history were the
The original use of the "Six Ritual Jades" became lost, with such jades becoming
Symbolism and meaning
Jade objects originally begun as forms of spiritual connections or value but in later years, developed into symbols of authority and status.[19] Throughout Neolithic Chinese culture, jade remained, however, saturated in purposeful iconography and symbolism.[7] Especially during the Eastern Zhou period and Shang dynasty, jade objects see representations of celestial beings who played key roles in communicating with ancestral spirits.[7] Later, with the transition to the early Western Zhou period, jade objects began to lose their connectivity to Heavenly powers and instead reflected the political authority and status of their owners.[7] This shift marked an important period in Chinese jade, a correction of usage and thus a redefining of Chinese culture.[7]
Concentration on spirituality
In its earliest states, the visual representations in Chinese jade embodied one of the first forms of narrative.[7] Narratives with universal characteristics associated with religion and spirituality utilize natural elements that surround humankind and suggest a religion associated with Heaven and Earth.[7] Due to ancient China's deep dependence on agriculture, and a reliance on a cycle of natural phenomenon, many mystic properties began to be associated with nature.[7] The spirituality, a mythological connection between the mundane Earth and the transcendence of Heaven, was manifested in many jade objects through the late phase of the Shang dynasty.[7] Since jade was extracted from high mountains and riverbeds, and mountains in Chinese culture symbolized a way to ascend beyond the Earth into Heaven, jade held power in terms of funerary rites and other rites associated with mysticism.[22] Funerary ritual jade objects included things like pinnular-shaped ornamental jade, beads, and even agricultural tools such as axes and shovel (used to reiterate the connection between nature and the heavens).[23] These agricultural tools were either placed in tombs as symbols of a prosperous afterlife or to sanctify the tomb for spirits responsible for natural phenomena and human wellbeing.[23] Along with major objects, many smaller animal-shaped objects reflected the same sense of spirituality in nature and remained prevalent throughout the Shang dynasty. Birds, turtles, silkworms, dragons and cicadas appeared the most and each epitomized early China's relationship between religion and nature.[7] Birds flight for instance, symbolized the spiritual journey: a journey from the natural earth to the celestial heavens.[24] Similarly, the turtle's voyage across land and sea represented the expedition from earth to underworld.[25] Jade cicadas and silkworms construed rebirth, symbolizing the rebirth of the dead when placed in tombs.[7]
Along with animal-shaped objects, jade also took upon the shape of clouds, earth, and wind; creating a more literal translation of belief.[26] Cloud pendants and cloud-shaped jade found in tombs of the elite elicit the belief in a hierarchical social structure with leaders holding both political and spiritual power.[27] Bi discs and cong, commonly structured jade objects, also developed funerary significance in their use in rituals.[7] Bi discs, specifically, were used in sacrifices to Heaven.[27] Jade constructed huang pendants likewise saw an important funerary connection due to their inclusion in the typical shaman attire.[7]
Jade human figurines in the Shijiahe culture are another way jade was used in the celestial context. These figurines were supposedly used for the staging of ritual sacrifices and to preserve the memory of the sacrifice for subsequent generations.[22]
Gallery
This section contains an unencyclopedic or excessive gallery of images. |
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Warring States
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Sculpture of the head and torso of ahorse, Han dynasty
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Cup with dragon handles
(12th century) -
Jade carving of Song dynasty
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Tang dynasty Celadon Jade Headdress
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Ming dynasty Jade Pendant
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Warring States Jade Huang
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Jade dragon of Han dynasty
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Chinese jade carvings in British Museum
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Jade carving in Qing dynasty
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Jade of the Qing dynasty
See also
- Chinese culture
- Chinese art
- Jade burial suit
- Jade use in Mesoamerica
- Jadeite Cabbage
- Yupei – Jade pendant
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Fiero, Gloria K. (2010). The Humanistic Tradition. Vol. I (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
- ^ Pope-Henessey, Chapter II.
- ^ a b c D., C. (1921). "CHINESE JADES". Bulletin of the City Art Museum of St. Louis. 6: 32–47 – via JSTOR.
- ISBN 9781891771767.
- ^ Howard, 19–22
- ^ Pope-Henessey, Chap. IV.
- ^ S2CID 96457018.
- ^ Watson, 77.
- Wenlin, (2016).
- ^ jade. Collins English Dictionary. 2011.
- ^ Desautels, Paul E. (1986). The Jade Kingdom. Springer. p. 81.
- ^ "Progress review of the scientific study of Chinese ancient jade". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ "Archaeologists unearth 5,000-year-old jade base".
- ^ Liu, Li 2003:3–15
- ^ Martin, Steven (2007). The Art of Opium Antiques. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books.
- ^ "List of Rulers of China". October 4, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ S2CID 145526495.
- ^ "The Song Dynasty in China". afe.easia.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
- ^ ISSN 0305-4403.
- ^ a b Nelson, Sarah (1995). The archaeology of northeast China : beyond the Great Wall. London: Routledge. pp. 21–64.
- ^ ISBN 9780470774670
- ^ Bachelard, Gaston (1943). L'air et les songes. Essai sur l'imagination du mouvement. Paris: Librairie José Corti.
- ^ Liu, Li (2004). The Chinese Neolithic: Trajectories to Early States. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 64–67.
- ^ Childs-Johnson, Elisabeth (1988). "Dragons, masks, axes and blades from four newly documented jade-working cultures of Ancient China". Orientation. 19: 30–41.
- ^ ISSN 1387-6813.
Bibliography
- Howard, Angela Falco; Hung, Wu; Song, Li; Hong, Yang (1 January 2006). Chinese Sculpture. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-10065-5)
- Pope-Hennessy, Una (October 2008). Early Chinese Jades (reprint ed.). READ BOOKS. ISBN 978-1-4437-7158-0)
- Scott-Clark, Cathy; Levy, Adrian (2002). The Stone of Heaven: Unearthing the Secret History of Imperial Green Jade. Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-52596-0.
- Watson, William; Ho, Chuimei (2007). The arts of China after 1620. Yale University Press Pelican history of art. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-10735-7)
Further reading
- Laufer, Berthold, 1912, Jade: A Study in Chinese Archeology & Religion, Reprint: Dover Publications, New York. 1974.
- ISBN 0-87556-754-1
- Art in Quest of Heaven and Truth: Chinese Jades through the Ages. Taipei: National Palace Museum.
- Between hell and the Stone of Heaven: Observer article on Jade Mining in Burma
- Old Chinese Jades: Real or Fake?
- BOOK REVIEW, The Stone of Heaven: The Secret History of Imperial Green Jade by Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine