Chinese jade represents any carved-jade artifacts created in China, tracing back to the Neolithic period (around 3000–2000 BCE) and continuing through history. The Chinese have always held jade in high esteem, associating it with purity and eternal strength.
The Significance of Jade
In Chinese art and culture, jade holds a unique status, revered even more than gold in Western tradition, imbued with profound ethical implications. The ancient text, “Shuowenjiezi,” authored by Xu Shen, articulates the essence of jade (yu) with a description emphasizing its five virtues:
1. Its beauty and warmth symbolize kindness.
2. Its translucent surface reflecting interior qualities indicates rectitude.
3. Its harmonious tone, which travels far, represents wisdom.
4. Its fragility represents bravery, as it can break but not be twisted.
5. Finally, its non-violent sharpness symbolizes purity.
Due to these characteristics as well as its believed unbreakable nature, jade has historically been used for not just ornaments but also ceremonial items significant in both Confucianism and Daoism, as well as protective motifs for the afterlife within tombs.
Composition of Jade
Throughout ancient Chinese history, the primary type of jade utilized was nephrite, composed of crystalline calcium magnesium silicate. In its unadulterated form, nephrite is white but can appear in various colors such as green, cream, and brown due to impurities like iron. The Chinese umbrella term for jade, “yu,” encompasses a variety of related stones, including nephrite and jadeite. By the 4th millennium BCE, jade from Lake Tai began to be widely utilized by southeastern cultures, while the northeastern deposits known as “Xiuyan jade” were used by Hongshan culture. During historical times, the Yarkand and Hotan riverbeds in present-day Xinjiang region emerged as leading nephrite sources, often found in boulders. From the 18th century onwards, green jadeite from northern Myanmar became prominent, though it is not as durable as nephrite. The hardness of jade requires specific and labor-intensive techniques for shaping and adorning, involving drilling and grinding rather than cutting.
Historical Context of Chinese Jade
Early Examples
The earliest jade artifacts from the lower Yangtze River region are linked to the Majiabang culture (circa 5100–3900 BCE) and progressed through the Songze and Qingliangang cultures until the 4th–3rd millennium BCE. Notably intricate jade pieces appear around 2500 BCE within the Liangzhu culture, suggesting a ceremonial purpose rather than practical use. These include the iconic flat, perforated bi disk and the square-cong, which held significant symbolic meaning in later Chinese culture. The full understanding of the cong’s role in geomantic practices or astronomy remains ambiguous, though it combines elements representing both earth and heaven. In that era, a variety of ornamental jades like pendants and bracelets began to flourish, as did ceremonial blades and axes.
The Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE)
During the Shang dynasty, particularly around Anyang, jade craftsmanship advanced significantly with the creation of ceremonial weapons and various ritual jade forms, such as bi and cong, alongside those designated for status. Intricate carvings of animals, figurines, and masks emerged, hinting at the earliest forms of mingqi, or spirit vessels, utilized to honor the deceased.
The Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE)
The tradition of creating jade objects persisted through the Zhou dynasty, where bi and cong shapes were refined further, crafting sceptres to denote nobility levels and governance power. Burial customs incorporated jade to seal the orifices of the deceased. Initially, Zhou jade carving mirrored Shang methods, but eventually, the designs grew more fluid and abstract, moving toward decorative motifs rather than strict adherence to form.
The Song Dynasty (960–1279)
During the Song dynasty, marked by a fascination with ancient styles, distinguishing jades from this period became challenging. Artifacts dug from the tombs highlight a trend of emulating earlier shapes of jades, ritualistic items, and decorations, indicating an admiration for the styles from the Warring States and Han periods. As jade carving techniques remained relatively unchanged, pieces from this era are often identified by their playful elegance and fusion of styles.
The Qing Dynasty (1644–1911/12)
Throughout the Qing period, China exercised control over jade provinces of Hotan and Yarkand, supplying exceptional nephrite to Beijing for intricate carving. Jadeite from Myanmar also became available during this time. The reign of Qianlong is especially noted for high-quality jade craftsmanship, where ornate vases, vessels emulating antique bronze designs, and scholarly items like brush pots flourished. Nevertheless, defining the dating of these exquisite jades poses challenges due to the overlapping styles influencing creation beyond Qianlong’s era.
In summary, the legacy of jade in Chinese culture is a testament to both its aesthetic appeal and deeper significance, reflecting the rich history and evolving artistry that spans millennia.
