The essence of heaven and
Jade, or in Chinese, is considered the essence of heaven and Earth in China. First appearing in the Xinglongwa Culture (6200-5400 BC) in northeastern China, jade has played a significant role in Chinese civilization.
“The history of jade is longer than other traditional artifacts like bronze ware, porcelain and lacquer ware. It embodies the essence of Chinese traditional culture,” says Zhang Wei, a curator at Shanghai Museum.
Unlike today’s definition of jade in mineralogy — metamorphic rocks made up of tiny interlocking mineral crystals — which is further divided into two categories, nephrite and jadeite, the concept of ancient Chinese jade is broader, referring to all the beautiful stones, including agate, turquoise and crystal, which were carved before the Qing Dynasty (16441911).
“The mineralogical study of jade was first brought into China in the late 18th century. It started to be recognized by the Chinese experts in the Republic of China (1912-49). The concept of ancient Chinese jade, therefore, is more than its chemical composition and physical structure,” says Zhang.
It is widely known that Hetian jade, a kind of nephrite named after its place of origin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is better than the jade from other places. Among the various types of Hetian jade, (muttonfat) jade is the most precious, with gentle look, pure color and smooth and “oily” texture.
“The earliest artifacts carved from Hetian jade were excavated from the tomb of Fu Hao, one of the best-preserved from the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC). It was actually not until the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220) that Hetian jade became the major material. Before that, the ancients applied local stones as materials,” says Zhang.
In ancient times, there were mainly two ways of mining Hetian jade. One was by miners climbing Kunlun Mountain and digging in primary deposits. The other way saw miners going to the mid-upper reaches of rivers formed by melted mountain snow and flooding into valleys to find the stones brought along with the water. Miners would just dredge up “jade pebbles” from rivers when the water level dropped.
There are several types of ancient Chinese jade.
Before the Shang Dynasty, jade was often used as ritual tools to worship divinity, like (disc), (tube), (blade) and (scepter). It was also a symbol of power and could only be owned by the aristocracy. Jade was made into weapons or tools, such as (axe), (halberd), (knife) and (notched axe), which were not practical but symbolic.
Jade was believed to have a function of exorcising evil spirits and thus was turned into burial objects in the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220), such as jade clothes and and — pieces put in the hands, mouths and noses of the deceased. was often made into the shape of a pig as it was a symbol of wealth, while was shaped like a cicada as the insect symbolized rebirth and immortality.
With the secularization of jade in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the mythology faded while its artistry grew. Animals, human figures, mountains and ancient bronze wares were all popular styles at that time.
In the Qing Dynasty, there was a boom in daily utensils made of jade, such as a jade belt hook, cup, bowl, paper weight and brush holder.
Ancient Chinese jade was also made into ornaments, for example, jade (earring), (arc-shaped pendant),
(hairpin), (bracelet) and (belt).
“The period covering the late Neolithic Age, the Shang Dynasty, the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC), the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 24), as well as the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing dynasties (especially the reign of Emperor Qianlong), are the heyday of jade culture,” says Zhang.
Before the Han Dynasty, the pa jade were abstract, such as the g tern that was popular during the States Period (453-221 BC) and e the ancient expectation of good for crops. By the Tang (AD 618Song dynasties, jade had moved courtly ritual and the motifs be alistic to cater to the public tas
It was a tough job for the craftsmen to carve jade becau hardness of the material. sand of quartzite, garnet and co all harder than jade, was used dium to carve jade.
Lu Zigang, one of only a few ed ancient jade craftsmen in t Dynasty, was known for mak pendants which had calligraph side and a carved painting on t Some were signed Zigang, but thenticity is doubted by expert
“We haven’t found any docum ing that he made jade pendants other jade objects made by him vases, stationary accessories a were seen in literature,” says Zh
The reason why Lu was fam that he, more than other craftsm an educated man with a certa status so he was allowed to sign works, which gained popularit the literati, Zhang added.
Currently, around 20 pieces o Chinese jade artworks collecte Shanghai Museum are exhibite Moscow Kremlin Museum as pa exhibition “Ming Dynasty: The R of Knowledge,” which runs thro 25.
“Ancient Chinese jade deserv attention. The number of jad exhibited in the Shanghai Muse only accounts for 10 percent of i tion. More elaborate jade object on display at Shanghai Museum’ branch,” says Zhang. Opening hours: 9am-5pm (closed o Mondays)
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