Jade: The Divine Stone in Chinese Culture

My ancestors began using jade some 8000 years ago. Since then, we Chinese have regarded it our most treasured gem! Have you heard the story from the Warring States period that the emperor of Chin was willing to trade 15 cities for one Jade "pi"? Jade is the toughest of all stones and difficult to work even with modern tools. It is really remarkable that the Chinese were able to achieve such a high standard of jade carving all the way back to the Neolithic Age! 


I must have inherited the love of jade from my ancestors. One day, before a small stall selling archaic jades, this love suddenly blossomed. I could no longer resist the urge to possess these interesting artifacts. After being cheated by the antique dealers enough, I was at last able to build up a modest collection. 


 

Kenneth's Jades


Dragon Finial, Yuan Dynasty 13th C. 

This charateristic piece depicts a dragon admist foliage. It was so skilfully reticulated I wonder how much time have been spent to have it carved. 



Axe, Neolithic
 

This Neolithic axe probably dates from the Liangzhu culture, some 4000 years ago. It is made of nephrite jade, elegantly shaped, and the polish is extremely smooth. The absence of cracks and chips suggests that the piece was a ritual or ceremonial object. 


 

Belt Plaque, Ming Dynasty 14th - 17th C.

The plaque is in the shape of a peach, a symbol of longetivity and reticulated to depict a deer, a symbol of wealth. The three plants seen here: pine tree, bamboo and prunus is a favorite motif among Ming and Qing scholars. There are usually 20 pieces of ornamental plaques of various shapes on a Ming belt. 


Fish Pendant, Zhou Dynasty 10th C. B.C.
 
This pendant is a very thin slice of jade with just some light and simple incisions to depict a fish. Similar fish pendants were also popular during the preceding Shang Dynasty. 



Deer, Qing Dynasty circa 18th C. 

This lovely deer is pierced to be worn as a pendant. It dates from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, a peak in the history of Chinese jade carving. Qianlong Jades are characterized by good quality material and superb workmanship, they are dream pieces of any Jade collector. 

 

Thanks to Mr. Zhou Nanquan, researcher at the Palace Museum, Beijing. Without his teaching and advices, perhaps I still could not be able to distinguish the imitations from the genuine ones. And it is hard to imagine how imitations and fakes has dominated the market today. So, other Jade lovers should beware. 


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