China Jade Artifacts of the Western Zhou Dynasty
There were many kinds of jade articles in the Western Zhou Dynasty, and they had unique artistic features. In terms of styling: - In the early days, there were many plain jade pieces. The edges were irregular and there were cutting marks and damages. The surface of the jade was thick inside and thin outside. The middle hole was single-sided. In the later period, there were decorative patterns such as dragon patterns, phoenix patterns, cloud patterns, etc., which were carved with negative lines. The lines were softer and smoother than those of the Shang Dynasty, and the composition was more rigorous. - Most of the congs were square pillars of different heights. The round hole in the center was larger, and the corners were straight and strong. Most of the surfaces were smooth and without patterns. Very few of them were carved with bird patterns or other patterns on the four surfaces of the square body. - The Gui was flat and rectangular, with an equinoceros triangle at the top. It was well-made and generally had no decorative patterns. - Huang was in the shape of a half-wall or a fan, with holes on both ends. In addition to the light plain ones, dragon patterns and phoenix patterns were carved with shallow Yin lines, and there were also animal-shaped ones, which were more vivid and unique. - Most dagger-axes inherited the shape and characteristics of the Shang Dynasty. There were small and exquisitely made small jade dagger-axes, as well as jade dagger-axes decorated with phoenix and divine beast (human) patterns. - Most of the handles were flat, with different shapes and sizes. Most of them were the same as those of the Shang Dynasty. A few of them had patterns such as bird patterns and cloud patterns on the surface, and the ends might be inlaid with turquoise and jade strips. - Jue is an oblate object, like a ring or a piece of jade, but with a gap. It is a popular earring. Most of them are plain and have no patterns. A few of them have phoenix patterns and dragon patterns carved by Yin lines. - The face of the god, man and beast was decorated in flat embossed. The face had the style of the Shang Dynasty. The word minister, cloud head and nose, flat crown and hat on the head, curly horn-shaped decoration on both sides of the head, flat and smooth back, tenons and holes under the neck, probably inlaid jewelry. - There were many dragon-shaped objects, and the lines of decoration became smooth and smooth from the square folding of the Shang Dynasty. In the later period, the dragon body was long and thin, and the carving of the horns was not obvious and even became cloud-shaped ears. The word "minister" was gradually replaced by round eyes. - Birds were mostly flat cuboids, with circles as eyes, short horns on the top of their heads, wide beaks with protruding tips on the upper and lower ends, wide drooping tails, and a few Yin lines on their bodies to represent wings and long tails. - The owl glided with flat wings. Its hooked beak was curved at the chest and had a hole. It had round eyes and a short herringbone line between its forehead. Its back was engraved with a cloud and thunder pattern. The short tail was fine and there were holes and pits under its abdomen. - The cow was standing, with short limbs and simple hoofs. Its body was round and smooth without any patterns, its tail drooped, and its head was slightly smaller than that of the Shang Dynasty. - Tigers were mostly flat and flat, lying down, with their heads looking flat or drooping, cloud-shaped ears protruding upward, mouths showing teeth, tails upturned or curled, and simple decorations in the later stage, only a single Yin line was used to represent the outline of the limbs. - The deer was shaped like a sheet and had many shapes. It was light and had no patterns. There were only a few outlines, but the antlers were exquisitely carved. - The fish's body is flat, either straight or slightly curved in a semicircle, the circle is the eye, the mouth is wide and pointed at both ends, there is a short shadow line carved with the back fin and the lower abdomen dividing fin, the tail part is small fork, the fish body is smooth or decorated with curved scales. In terms of craftsmanship, the Yin lines were exquisitely carved and the lines were smooth. In terms of decorative patterns, dragon patterns, phoenix patterns, cloud patterns, etc. were commonly seen. The decorative patterns on different jade articles had their own characteristics, reflecting the unique artistic style and production level of the jade articles of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Read more exciting novels for free
Appreciation of Jade Artifacts in Shang Dynasty and Western Zhou Dynasty
Jade Artifacts in the Form of Deer in the Western Zhou Dynasty
The deer-shaped jade ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty was mostly used as ornaments. Judging from the excavation situation, the known jade articles of the Western Zhou Dynasty were mainly unearthed in the tombs of the Western Zhou Dynasty. There were many tombs of the Western Zhou Dynasty and they were widely distributed. Among them, the capital area of the Zhou Dynasty and the capital ruins of the feudal circles were more concentrated. The jade articles in these tombs included funerary jade and the utensils used by the tomb owner before his death. Among the types of jade articles unearthed, there were more jade articles based on deer. The deer-shaped jade articles of the Western Zhou Dynasty had distinctive artistic features. The jade deers that were seen were even divided into male and female, as well as big and small. Most of them were embossed works, and a small number were round sculptures. Most of the shapes were flat and sheet-like, which might be the result of the scarcity of materials or the development of sheet cutting technology. The proportions of the various parts of the Jade Deer's body were relatively accurate. On the basis of realism, artistic exaggeration was carried out to summarize the overall appearance and exaggerate the local characteristics. The Yin lines outlined the detailed characteristics, such as the eyes, snout, hoofs, and other parts. It showed that the deer was looking up and was ready to attack. It was full of vitality. Some of the jade deer had long and thick horns, or curved backwards, or split into two branches that were flat to the left and right, with the front branch rising up and curling into a round hole. The deer had large eyes, a protruding chest, and a plump body. The muscles or body muscles were expressed succinctly and briskly. Many jade deers had holes carved into their necks for hanging. In terms of collections, the Guo State Museum in Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, the Shanxi Museum, and the Baoji Bronze Museum all had collections of Western Zhou jade deer. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Ancient China Jade Artifacts of the Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty was a unified multi-ethnic country with a complete patriarch system. Jade articles became the treasures monopolized by the emperors, and there were a variety of them. In addition to religious objects, there were also tools, daily necessities, accessories, and jade ornaments. Among them, ritual vessels and jade carvings of figures were the most precious. For example, jade Zhang, jade Cong, jade Bi, etc., the value of figure carvings was even higher. The value of round carvings of animals and containers was second only to that of jade carvings of people. They were worth collecting. This was because the round carvings of people and animals were difficult to craft and had realistic artistic characteristics. They could reflect the social appearance of the time and had high artistic, economic, and scientific value. In addition, there were many types of tools and weapons in the Shang Dynasty. The production level was divided into high and low. The ceremonial utensils or weapons were exquisite and beautiful, which was also worth collecting. Jade articles in the early part of the Shang Dynasty were represented by the relics unearthed from Erlitou site and tombs in Yanshi, Henan Province. There were many kinds of jade articles such as jade Gui and jade Cong. Some of the new articles might be used for etiquette. The production of large-scale thin articles showed the progress of jade technology at that time. In the later part of the Shang Dynasty, the Erligang site in Zhengzhou was represented. Jade articles such as jade Zhang and jade Ge were also unearthed from other Shang Dynasty sites and tombs. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Western Zhou Dynasty jade, ancient jade
Jade articles of the Western Zhou Dynasty were an important part of the development of ancient jade articles in China. There were many types of jade in the Western Zhou Dynasty. The following were some of the common types: - ** Jade Bi **: In the early days, there were many plain jade pieces. The edges were irregular and there were cutting marks and damages. The surface was thick inside and thin outside. There was a deep straight line cut, and the middle hole was single-sided. In the later period, there were decorative patterns such as dragon patterns, phoenix patterns, and cloud patterns carved by negative lines. The lines were softer and smoother than those of the Shang Dynasty, and the composition was more rigorous. - ** Jade Cong **: Most of the shapes are square pillars of different heights. The round hole in the center is larger, and the corners are straight and strong. Most of the surfaces are smooth without patterns. Very few of them are carved with bird patterns or other decorations on the four surfaces of the square body. - Gui: It was an important ritual vessel of the Western Zhou Dynasty. It was flat and rectangular, with an equinocratic triangle at the top. It was well-made and generally had no decorative patterns. - ** Huang **: Half-wall or fan-shaped, with holes on both ends. Other than the light element ones, the dragon patterns and phoenix patterns were usually carved with light dark lines. The lines were smooth and there were also some that were directly in the shape of animals, which was more vivid and unique. - ** Ge **: Most of them inherited the shape and characteristics of the Shang Dynasty Ge. There are also small and exquisitely made small jade Ge ornaments. Some are decorated with phoenix and divine beast (human) patterns. The design is ingenious and the shape is unique, increasing the sacred and noble atmosphere. - ** Handle-shaped ware **: flat body, different shapes and sizes, most of them are the same as the handle-shaped ware of the Shang Dynasty, a few of them have bird patterns and cloud patterns on the surface, and the end is inlaid with decorative objects made of turquoise and jade strips, which may have ceremonial or symbolic significance. - ** Jue **: Oblate round, shaped like a ring or a piece of jade but with a gap. It is a popular earring. Most of them are light and have no patterns. A few of them have phoenix patterns or dragon patterns carved by Yin lines. The lines are smooth and the craftsmanship is exquisite. - ** God, Man, and Beast Face Ornaments **: A flat embossed shape. The face is engraved with the style of the Shang Dynasty. The word "minister" is written on it. It has a cloud head and a nose. It wears a flat hat. There are curly horn-shaped ornaments on both sides of the head. The back is flat and smooth. There are holes under the neck. It may be inlaid jewelry. - ** Dragon **: Its shape is basically similar to the dragon of the Shang Dynasty. There are many pieces. The decorative lines have become smooth and smooth from the square folding of the Shang Dynasty. In the later period, the dragon body is thin and long. The carving of the horns is not obvious and even becomes cloud-shaped ears. The word "minister" is gradually replaced by round eyes. - ** Bird **: flat cuboid, mostly with circles as eyes, short horns on the top of the head, wide mouth with protruding tips at the upper and lower ends, wide drooping tail, less complex geometric patterns of the Shang Dynasty on the body, with a small number of Yin lines to represent the wings and long tail, two claws lying down, a round hole in the chest. - ** owl **: It glides with flat wings. Its beak is curved at the chest and has a hole. It has round eyes and a dense herringbone line on its forehead. The double hook lines on its back are engraved with the pattern of clouds and thunder. The line on the short tail is more dense. There is a special structure under the abdomen. It may still be a god worshipped in the Western Zhou Dynasty. - ** Ox **: Standing posture, four short limbs with simple hoofs, round body, smooth without any patterns, drooping tail, head ratio slightly smaller than the Shang Dynasty, has a certain realistic meaning. - ** Tiger **: There are many flat plates. The shape is the same as that of the Shang Dynasty. It is lying down. The tiger head is flat or drooping. The cloud-shaped ears are raised upwards. The mouth is open and the teeth are exposed. The tail is upturned or curled. The early decoration is similar to that of the Shang Dynasty. In the later period, only a single Yin line is used to represent the outline of the limbs. - [Deer]: There are models such as turning back, looking forward, lying down, standing, etc. They are generally in the shape of a sheet. They are light and have no patterns. They only have a simple outline, but their antlers are exquisitely carved. - Fish: Inherited the shape of the late Shang Dynasty, flat, or straight or slightly curved in a semicircle, the circle is the eye, the mouth is wide and pointed at both ends, there is a short shadow line carved on the back fin and the lower abdomen dividing fin, the tail part is a small fork, the fish body is light or decorated with curved scale patterns, the shadow line is carved shallow and thin, the mouth is often pierced. These Western Zhou jades had a unique artistic style in terms of craftsmanship, shape, and decoration, reflecting the culture, etiquette, and aesthetic concepts of the time. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Dragon Jade Pendant of Western Zhou Dynasty
The ritual jade ware of the Western Zhou Dynasty
The Western Zhou Dynasty implemented the enfeoffment system and the patriarch system, and the hierarchy was strict. This had a great impact on the jade system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. The ritual jade of the Western Zhou Dynasty had clear rules on the use of grades. Gui was an important ritual vessel in the Western Zhou Dynasty. It was flat and rectangular, with an equinoceros triangle at the top. It was well-made and generally had no decorative patterns. Cong was shaped as a square pillar of different heights. The central hole was larger, and the corners were straight and strong. Most of the surfaces were smooth and without patterns. Very few were carved with bird patterns or other patterns on the four surfaces of the square body. In the early days, there were many plain jade, with irregular edges and cutting marks and damages. The surface of the jade was thick inside and thin outside, with deep straight cuts, and the middle hole was single-sided drilled. In the later period, there were dragon patterns, phoenix patterns, cloud patterns and other decorations carved by negative lines on the surface of the jade. Huang was in the shape of a half-wall or a fan, with holes on both ends. In addition to the plain ones, there were usually dragon patterns and phoenix patterns carved with shallow Yin lines, and there were also those directly shaped like animals, which were more vivid and unique. These jades played an important role in the etiquette system of the Western Zhou Dynasty. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Ranking of Jade Artifacts in China
China's more well-known jades include Hetian Jade from Xinjiang, Dushan Jade from Nanyang, Henan, Lantian Jade from Shaanxi, Xiuyan Jade from Xiuyan, Hubei, and Shoushan Stone from Shoushan, Fujian. Among them, Hetian jade was one of the four famous jades in China and had great collection value. It was mainly produced in Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang. Dushan jade was produced in Dushan, Nanyang, Henan Province. It had many colors and was the first-class raw material for jade carving. Lantian jade was produced in Lantian County, Shaanxi Province. Turquoise was relatively low-key. From the top ten national treasures of China, there were the Dushan Jade Sea made in the Yuan Dynasty, the golden thread jade clothes of the Han Dynasty, the Yu Yu flood control map of Yushan in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the big jade Ge and the jade border Zhang of the Shang Dynasty, etc. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Various Jade Artifacts in China
There were many types of jade in China, and different historical periods had different representative jade. In prehistoric times, the ancestors of the Hemudu culture in the south made beautiful stone ornaments to open the prologue of China jade culture. In the middle and late Neolith Age, the jade artifacts unearthed from Liangzhu culture in Taihu Lake Basin and Hongshan culture in Liaohe River Basin were eye-catching. The typical objects of Liangzhu culture include jade Cong, jade Bi, jade axe, trident jade articles and string jade ornaments, etc. The typical objects of Hongshan culture include jade dragon, jade animal ornaments, jade hoop ornaments, etc. The style of the Xia Dynasty jade ware was the transition form of the Liangzhu culture, Longshan culture, Hongshan culture jade ware to the Yin Shang jade ware, such as the seven-hole jade knife unearthed from the Erlitou site in Yanshi, Henan Province. The late Shang Dynasty was represented by the jade articles unearthed from Fuhao Tomb of Yin Ruins in Anyang. According to their uses, they were divided into six categories: ritual vessels, ceremonial vessels, tools, daily utensils, decorations, and miscellaneous vessels. There were practical vessels such as jasper Gui and sapphire Gui. There were many animal and human jade articles, such as jade dragon, jade phoenix, jade parrot, jade man, etc. There were also the earliest beautiful jade articles and a large number of round carvings in China. The Western Zhou Dynasty created a unique jade-carving technique of carving thick lines or thin Yin lines on one side of the slope. There were bird-shaped jade knives and animal-faced jade ornaments. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the various feudal lords regarded jade as the embodiment of themselves (gentlemen) and wore jade ornaments. In the Yuan Dynasty, there was a giant wine container called "Dushan Jade Sea", also known as jade urn and jade bowl. The body of the container was oval and weighed 3500 kilograms. The walls around the container were carved with waves, fish dragons, seahorses and other sea beasts. In addition, there was also Hetian jade. One could identify the authenticity of Hetian jade by scraping it with a knife (Hetian jade hardness 6 - 6.9, ordinary knife hardness 5.5, can scrape off foam is fake) or measuring the density (normal density is between 2.85 - 3.05). <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Qing Dynasty Jade Artifacts
There were many beautiful jade articles in the Qing Dynasty. The following are some of the representative jade articles of the Qing Dynasty: - [Yu the Great's Flood Control Painting of Jade Mountain: As a jade sculpture, it is mainly used for appreciation and display.] - ** Innocent Jade Goat Head Melon Edge Kettle (Collection of the National Palace Museum in Taibei)**: This is the only known Qing Dynasty jade beam teapot. It was formed during the Qianlong period and was originally stored in Yongshou Palace. The pot was carved into the shape of a pumpkin from fine white jade. The pot had twelve petals, and the lid and the ring foot were also twelve petals. The petals were bas-relief. The lid button was in the shape of a pagoda formed by three layers of melon ridges, which was the head of a sheep. The horns, ears, eyes, beard, teeth, and even the nose were exquisitely carved. The handle was made of jade. There were three twisted silk shaped jade strips, and the top was connected to the lotus leaf pattern jade piece. The connection with the pot body was decorated with lotus leaves. The overall shape and style were influenced by Hendu Stan jade. - ** Jade ceremonial ware **: For example, the jade that the Qing Emperor carried to the Temple of Heaven. The craftsmanship was very exquisite. There were double-wall-shaped ware that imitated the Han and Ming styles, as well as unique styles of living rings and chains. The jade Gui was similar to the Ming Dynasty and had many decorative patterns. It was exquisitely made. There were sea water and river teeth patterns on it, and some were also decorated with the sun, cloud, moon, etc. - ** Jade accessories **: Including jade hairpins, jade hoops, jade rings, jade bracelets, jade bracelets, jade thumb rings, jade belt hooks, jade buttons, jade court beads, jade hat plates, jade bridles, jade plates, jade pendants, etc. - ** Jade practical utensils **: It was the era with the most varieties and quantity of jade ware in the past dynasties. There were jade teapots, wine pots, teacups, wine cups, cup holders, bowls, plates, chopsticks, small plates, snuff bottles, candlesticks, lamps, slag buckets, spoons, thumb rings, knife handles, etc. used in daily life. There were inkstones, pens, pen holders, pen containers, pen washing, pen rest, ink beds, inkstones, book weights, inkstone screens, ruler weights, and water guards used in the study room. - ** Furnishing and worshiping jade ware **: such as jade incense tube, jade elephant, exorcism, use end, jade mountain, screen, insert screen, hanging screen, flower insert and other furnishings, and Buddha, Arhat, Guanyin, five offerings, seven treasures, eight treasures, incense burner, jade bowl and other worshiping utensils. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Jade Artifacts of the Jin Dynasty
The Jin Dynasty jade ware was a type of jade ware from the Jin Dynasty. The shape of the ware was mostly based on the natural animals and plants. The material used was mainly sapphire, white jade, and agate. Most of the ornaments were in the shape of sheets, which were carved and engraved with Yin lines. Among them, Chunshui Jade and Qiushan Jade were the most popular. These were the typical types of jade in the Jin Dynasty. Although they were called "Chunshui" and "Qiushan", they were carved with animal patterns. In addition, there were also jade articles with cranes as the theme, such as the jade ornament with white jade and two cranes holding a ganoderma lucidum pattern ("Jade Xiaoyao") collected by the Capital Museum. The design was simple and bright, and the carvings were vivid and powerful. It was a treasure among the jade articles unearthed in the Jin Dynasty. The jades of the Jin Dynasty had rough grinding techniques, and the polishing techniques were obviously insufficient. Whether it was hollowing, drilling, or polishing, they were all extremely fine, but the standards were different. On the one hand, it might be because they were carved by the same batch of jade craftsmen. On the other hand, they added more characteristics and requirements of local customs in the subject matter, and they were all produced in the hinterland of the Jin Dynasty for the use of Jin nobles and commoners. For example, the white jade hollowed-out spring water ring from the Jin Dynasty was collected by the Palace Museum. There was also the jade carving bone bridle that existed in the world. The jade was transparent and warm, and the color was bright and beautiful. There were threads of red lines all over its body. It was shaped like a large object and had original patina. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>