Taotie Jade Artifacts of Past Dynasties
Jade articles with Taotie patterns had appeared in many dynasties. During the Liangzhu culture, the pattern of Taotie appeared on jade articles, which was an early example of Taotie patterns. During the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties, the Taotie pattern gradually matured. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, there was a Taotie pattern jade axe unearthed from the Sanmenxia Guo State cemetery. It was 13.2 cm long, 2.7 cm wide, and 2.1 cm thick. It was made of green jade. The body of the weapon had brown water. The whole body was like a copper axe. The body was thick and heavy. The middle part had a ridge, an arc blade, and a rectangular blade. The back of the blade was decorated with the Taotie pattern. During the Warring States Period, there were round jade pendants carved with taotie patterns on one side. The taotie patterns on the jade pendants were round and bulging, and the eyebrows were decorated with slanted patterns. There was a protruding part like a corolla in the middle of the forehead, and the curved horn on the top of the head was divided into two parts. It grew from the top of the head, bent down, and pierced through the forehead before curling to the side. Jade articles in the late Spring and Autumn period also had the pattern of Taotie. For example, the topaz jade clock in the late Spring and Autumn period had the pattern of Taotie on its front and back. Taotie patterns were also common in jade articles from the Han Dynasty. Read more exciting novels for free
How to Appreciate Jade Artifacts and How to Appraise Jade Artifacts
Appreciating and evaluating jade articles can be done from the following aspects: * * 1. Material ** 1. * * Color **: The color of natural jade is natural, and the color distribution is even and natural. The color of dyed jade is gorgeous, regular, and floating on the surface. For example, all kinds of jade should have this natural color characteristic. 2. * * Hand feeling **: Due to the different density, the jade feels different. For example, Hetian jade had a high density, and it felt heavy and cold. Generally, natural jade felt like it was falling when held in the hand, while fake jade was often light and floating. 3. * * Internal structure **: Observing the internal structure of the jade with light, the internal structure of the natural jade is naturally orderly. For example, under the light or sunlight, the internal structure of natural jade looked comfortable, while artificial imitation jade may have obvious artificial traces and even bubbles inside. 4. * * Gravity **: Natural jade has a high density, which can be judged by measuring its gravity. For example, Hetian jade, jade, and other dense jade stones could feel their weight in his hand. * * 2. Styling ** 1. * * Overall styling **: The proportion of the styling should be balanced and harmonious. It should not appear stiff. It should pay attention to the overall beauty. 2. [Details: For a jade with a shape, details are very important. For example, the lines must be smooth, without any broken lines, and the thickness must be uniform and appropriate.] * * 3. Craftsmanship ** 1. * * Pattern **: Pattern is an important part of jade appreciation. It is a form of ancient art. Different periods had different characteristics of decorative patterns, and their complexity might contain the cultural thoughts of the time, which not only helped to determine the generation of jade articles, but also helped to understand the life, culture, and thoughts of the people at that time. Moreover, good jade articles had smooth lines, uniform thickness, and more charm. 2. * * Craftsmanship Difficulty **: For example, some jade carvings of the Han Dynasty have high requirements for artistry, craftsmanship, and material. They can be used as a reference to determine the value of jade. * * 4. Sound ** Hanging the jade with a rope, hanging it in the air and fixing it properly, and then gently knocking it with another jade stone, the sound of natural jade knocking out is clear (as the ancient saying goes, the sound is melodious), but the sound of fake jade knocking out is more muffled. He could also use the jade to knock on the jade to judge by the sound. * * 5. Historical and cultural value ** 1. * * Age **: Jade articles of different ages have different historical and cultural values. For example, the Han Dynasty was the peak period of Chinese jade articles. Jade articles of this period were unique in terms of artistry and craftsmanship. 2. Jade ware is a high-level cultural carrier. It reflects ancient politics, etiquette, commerce, totems, religion, beliefs, and even life customs and aesthetic tastes. It carries rich cultural content. When appreciating and evaluating jade, one had to consider all the above aspects. One could not draw conclusions based on just one factor. If there were still doubts after the initial judgment, the jade could be sent to a professional appraisal agency for appraisal. The appraisal report issued by the formal agency when the merchant sold it could also be used as a reference. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
The Jade Artifacts of Rongcheng
The Rongcheng Museum has jade artifacts of different ages. Among them, there was a piece of jade from the Qin and Han Dynasties from the end of the Warring States Period to the beginning of the Han Dynasty. It was unearthed in 1982 at the Dongjing Building of Chengshantou Ruins (now Wolong Village). The jade was damaged, the jade color was green and white, and the surface was decorated with grain patterns. The two pieces of jade were the same color as the jade, both plain, and each had a hole at the bottom. There was also a jade pendant from the Han Dynasty that was collected in Buliu Town. It was white jade with dark brown carvings on some parts. One corner was missing and the shape was like a Huang. It was carved with cloud patterns and beast patterns, and there was a horned dragon on one side of the top. In addition, in October 1979, the villagers of Wolong Village near Chengshantou found a group of jade articles including one jade wall, two jade guides and one jade Huang when leveling the mound. This group of jade articles was sent to the museum of Qing Dao for collection. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
What era is the Taotie pattern jade?
The Taotie pattern first appeared on the jade ware of the Liangzhu culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River 5,000 years ago. It gradually matured during the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and was also more common in the jade ware of the Warring States and Han Dynasties. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
Jade Artifacts of Qin State
The Four Great Exorcism Jade Artifacts
In the Han Dynasty, the popular ornaments used by people to ward off evil spirits were jade Gangmao (Yan Mao), jade Wengzhong, and jade Sinan. The three were collectively called the Three Treasures of Evil Repelling. In addition, jade pendants were also believed by the ancients to have the effect of exorcism, so these four could be regarded as jade articles with the effect of exorcism. Among them, the Jade Gang Mao (Yan Mao) was generally a pair. The shape was the same. The jade was rectangular, and there were holes in the middle to wear ropes. The surface of the ware was engraved with auspicious sentences to exorcise evil spirits. It was an ancient amulet. On the four sides of the outer wall, there were two lines of official script inscriptions, a total of 34 words. In ancient times, jade pendants were not only ornaments, but also believed to be able to ward off evil spirits. They were light and suitable for carrying around. Some jade pendants were even engraved with auspicious words such as "longevity" or "evading evil and dispelling disasters" to increase the effect of evading evil spirits. The novel New Moon is equally exciting. Everyone is welcome to click and read it!
Appreciation of China Bronze and Jade Artifacts
Appreciation of China Bronzes: - History: China bronzes appeared in prehistoric times and reached its peak during the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties. - Art features: - There were many types of artifacts, solemn and gorgeous in shape, and exquisite in decorative patterns. They were relatively rare in the world. - The production process was superb. For example, there were strict requirements in terms of material selection, mixing, smelting, and injection molding. It might also require delicate hand-carving and other processes. - The inscriptions were rich in content and had important historical value. They were also valuable materials for studying the development and evolution of characters. - [Classes and uses: They can be divided into containers, weapons, musical instruments, carriages, and so on.] Among the bronze containers, there were cauldrons (ancient cooking utensils and important bronze ritual vessels, symbolizing the country and power), Li (similar in shape to cauldrons, used for cooking), Yi (equivalent to a steamer), Dagger (equivalent to a spoon), Gui (equivalent to a bowl, used for holding rice), and Yi (used for holding food). China Jade Appreciation: - Craftsmanship: Mainly hand-made. Craftsmen use special techniques to carve jade into various objects, such as bracelets, jade, jewelry, etc. - [Art features: Different shapes, exquisite patterns.] - "Cultural Connotation: It was of great significance in ancient society. It was not only the decoration and cultural symbol of the ancients. In the Qin Dynasty, jade ware symbolized power, blessing the people, worshipping ancestors, and other profound cultural meanings. It represented the high development of ancient culture and extraordinary artistic achievements. For example, the jade ware of the Shang Dynasty. The cultural characteristics of the Shang Dynasty were also reflected in the art of jade ware. The matriarchal inheritance of the Shang Dynasty society might be reflected in the archaeological discoveries related to jade ware. Moreover, the religious worship and social customs of the Shang Dynasty society might also be related to the use and production of jade ware. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
The Origin of Buddhist Mood in Jade Artifacts
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism had spread to the mainland of China and taken root. Later, the rulers of the Tang Dynasty vigorously promoted it and spread it throughout the Central Plains. Buddhism believed that "all living beings are equal and have Buddha nature". Everything in the world has spiritual wisdom. Jade was regarded as a collection of the essence of heaven and earth, noble and pure, and a spiritual object that understood heaven and earth. In Buddhism, it was often used as an object for cultivation. At the same time, as one of the seven treasures of Buddhism, jade was seen as a medium between humans and gods. Moreover, the origin of the jade was a place where Buddhism was prevalent, which allowed the artistic conception of Buddhist culture to be added to the jade carving. In addition, under the background of the popular jade culture in China, people liked to use jade to express and entrust their Buddhist beliefs. Therefore, the Buddhist theme in the jade carving theme was relatively large, thus forming the Buddhist artistic conception in the jade carving. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
The Gel-like Feeling of Jade Artifacts
The colloid texture of jade articles referred to the texture of a jelly-like substance on the surface of jade articles. This texture made the surface of the jade look smooth and moist, giving people a greasy feeling. Its formation was mainly related to the mineral composition, structure, and processing technology. The mineral components in the jade, such as tremolite, actiolite, etc., would make the surface of the jade appear colloid when the structure was compact and the texture was fine. The polishing and grinding process during processing would also affect the colloid of the jade. Glue texture and oiliness had a certain relationship. Generally, jade with strong colloid texture was better oily, but the two were not completely equal. Oiliness was the oily feeling on the surface of the jade, while the gel texture was the performance of the internal texture of the jade. Some jade had good oiliness but not strong colloid texture, and vice versa. The methods to identify the texture of the jade glue were as follows: First, observe whether the surface has a smooth and moist texture. The surface of the jade with a strong colloid feeling has a greasy luster; Second, touch it with your hand. The jade with a strong colloid feeling feels greasy and gives people a warm and comfortable feeling; Third, compare the texture. The jade with a strong colloid feeling has a delicate texture and a tight structure. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
On the Jade Artifacts in the Tombs of the Han Dynasty
The jades in the tombs of the Han Dynasty had many characteristics. ** 1. Source ** 1. ** Legacy of the previous dynasty ** - Due to the short history of the Qin Dynasty and the close proximity of the Warring States Period and the Western Han Dynasty, most of the jade ornaments unearthed from the tombs of the nobles in the early Western Han Dynasty had obvious characteristics of the Warring States Period. Some of them were even jade ornaments directly preserved from the Warring States Period. For example, a jade dancer unearthed from the tomb of Liu He, Marquis of Haiying in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, was a relic of the late Warring States Period. The jade pieces inlaid on the lacquer wood core jade pillow unearthed from the tomb of the courtier of the King of Chu in Lion Mountain, Xuzhou, covered all kinds of jade pendants from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Warring States Period. - The palace of the Han Dynasty inherited the treasures of the previous dynasty, including many jade articles. For example,"Han Shu·Suburban Sacrifice Annals" records that the "Suihou"(Suihou Pearl) and "Yubao Bi"(Heshi Bi) in Weiyang Palace during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han Dynasty may be the pearls and jade collected in the former dynasty. 2. ** Project and Grave Robbing Gains ** - In the Han Dynasty, there were "large-scale infrastructure" activities, such as the construction of Changling and the tomb of Liu Yan, the king of Zhongshan Jian. Many tombs were destroyed in these projects, and the jade articles in them may have been passed down. - Grave robbing was prevalent in the Han Dynasty. Not only were there lawless people robbing tombs, but even the nobles were also involved. For example, Liu Quji, the king of Guangchuan, robbed the tombs of famous people such as King You of Zhou and King Xiang of Wei. Many jade articles buried in the previous dynasty were passed down as the source of ancient jade in the Han tombs. ** 2. Type and usage ** 1. ** Practicable tools ** - For example, the bronze cup unearthed from the tomb of the King of Nanyue of the Western Han Dynasty in Xianggang Mountain, Guangzhou, has a similar style to the high-foot jade cup unearthed from the site of the Qin Epang Palace in Chezhang Village, western suburb of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. It is a practical instrument used to mix jade chips and dew to drink. 2. ** Ornaments ** - The nobles of the Han Dynasty liked to wear ancient jade, and many of the jade in the tombs of the early Western Han Dynasty had the characteristics of the Warring States Period. For example, the jade dancer unearthed from the tomb of Liu He, Marquis of Haiying in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, was reassembled into a set of accessories by the Han Dynasty people with jade Huang and jade tube for use; the S-shaped dragon white jade pendant unearthed from the tomb of the King of Chu in Lion Mountain, Xuzhou, had holes under the eyes of the jade dragon for wearing, which was an accessory. There were also white jade dragon and phoenix patterns from the early Western Han Dynasty, white jade double dragon heads with hooks, and so on. 3. ** Burial Jade ** - In the Han Dynasty, people would reform the ancient jade of the previous dynasty and use it as burial jade. Craftsmen would make the old jade into jade clothes, jade ornaments, jade covers, and other funerary objects. For example, the lacquer wood core inlaid jade pillow unearthed from the tomb of the courtier of the King of Chu in Lion Mountain of Xuzhou was a burial jade. ** 3. Regional differences ** - The jade artifacts unearthed from the tombs of the Han Dynasty in different areas had different characteristics. For example, due to the hot weather and high air humidity in the tomb of the King of Nanyue in Guangzhou, most of the jade articles unearthed were in a white state, while the jade articles unearthed from the tomb of the King of Chu in Lion Mountain in Xuzhou were quite different. ** 4. In terms of artistic value ** - Jade articles of the Han Dynasty had high artistic value. For example, the green jade wall with the pattern of dragon and dragon holding ring and milk nail in Hebei Museum is the most complete and largest jade wall found in our country at present; There is also the white jade wall with double dragons carved on both sides of the jade wall, with a pair of vigorous and majestic Kui dragons carved on the upper end of the wall; The white feathered man riding on a horse jade carving, the round carving squatting posture jade to ward off evil spirits, jade bear, etc. unearthed from the Weiling Cemetery of Emperor Yuan of Han Dynasty; A large number of exquisite jade articles were unearthed from the tomb of Liu He, the deposed emperor of Han Dynasty; The rosefinch ring cup unearthed from the tomb of a senior official of the Han Dynasty in Fangwanggang, Chaohu, Anhui Province, all showed the exquisite craftsmanship of the jade ware of the Han Dynasty. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>
110 Fine Jade Artifacts of the Yuan Dynasty
The following are some of the collection's fine jade articles of the Yuan Dynasty: 1. "Dushan Jade Sea: It is a work that can reflect the style and craftsmanship of the jade ware of the Yuan Dynasty. It belongs to the jade sea category and can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty. The production process is complicated and has high artistic and collection value. It is used as a ritual vessel to represent good luck and power. 2. Jade Hat Top with Double Hornless Dragon Patterns: It is a type of jade hat top. Its history can be traced back to the 13th century. It uses hollowed-out carving techniques and is exquisitely made. It is one of the representative works of jade ware in the Yuan Dynasty. It represents noble status and noble status. The shape is exquisite and the carving is exquisite. 3. Yuan carved lioness jade hat top: It is a type of jade hat top. Its history can be traced back to the 13th century. It uses hollowed-out carving techniques and is exquisitely made. It is one of the representative works of jade ware in the Yuan Dynasty. It represents the status and noble status of nobility. The shape is exquisite and the carving is exquisite. 4. [White Jade Couplet Pearl Pattern Cloud Dragon Ring: It belongs to the jade belt ring category. Its history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. The craftsmanship is exquisite. It is one of the representative works of ancient jade. It represents the status and noble status of nobility. The shape is simple and elegant, and the carving is exquisite.] 5. [White Jade Stove: It is a type of jade stove. Its history can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. The craftsmanship is exquisite. It is one of the representative works of ancient jade, representing nobility and wealth.] 6. Phoenix Peony Jade: Now in the Palace Museum. The jade is bluish-white and has the same patterns on both sides. It is carved with a red phoenix and a peony with twining branches. The phoenix's slender eyes hold a long ribbon tied to a coin-shaped knot. 7. The jade ring with the pattern of hornless dragon is now collected in the Hubei Province Museum. The jade is white with black spots. There is an oval hole in the oval shape. The ring is embossed with the dragon mouth containing ganoderma lucidum. 8. The jade book is now hidden in Lushun Museum. It is blue in color, flat and rectangular in shape. The top is slightly curved, and there are eight round holes on both sides. There is a round hole in the middle of the top. On the right side of the front, there is a vertical regular script "Empress Sheng". 9. Jade hat top with figure pattern: Now stored in the China Cultural Relics Information Center. It is white jade and round carved. The top of the hat is decorated with the Longevity Star, Lotus, and Egret, which symbolizes longevity. The carving technique is unique and there are traces of pipe drilling. 10. Lotus Egret Pattern Jade Hat Top (Collection of the Museum of Liaoning Province): Jade cyan with brown spots, the whole body is carved with lotus flowers and egrets using multiple hollowed-out techniques. 11. Lotus Egret Pattern Jade Hat Top (Collection of the China Cultural Relics Information Center): The jade is white and smooth, round carving, the theme pattern is egrets and lotus, using the color of jade skin to make it, there are two sets of holes at the bottom. 12. The top of a jade hat with a crane and deer figure pattern is now hidden in the Palace Museum. It is made of green jade and carved. On one side, there is a table in the middle of three people. Beside it, there are people playing the piano and standing. On the other side, there are carvings of crane, deer, ganoderma lucidum, pine branches and immortal grass. 13. The top of a jade hat with a dragon pattern is now stored in the China Cultural Relics Information Center. The jade is bluish white. The dragon pattern is a traditional pattern, and the dragon head is raised. The flowers are deeply sunken, and the bottom is slightly concave with two sets of holes. The unique craftsmanship is a typical work of the Yuan Dynasty. However, based on the current information, it was impossible to provide a complete list of the 110 fine jade articles of the Yuan Dynasty in the collection. The above was only a part of the collection of fine jade articles of the Yuan Dynasty. <a href="/?from=ask_words" style="color:red" target="_blank">Read more exciting novels for free</a>