Fine Chinese Jade Boulder Carving / landscape 18-19th C

 

In China, the most reputable jade producing area is Hetian in Xinjiang Province. Hetian,located in the southwest of Xinjiang in Northwest China, is famous for its exquisite, pure white and flawless jade -- Hetian jade.

Traditionally,the fine jade in Chinese refers to Hetian jade,(Hardness:6.5-6.9 Specific gravity:2.9-3.1),Hetian jade is so hard that it can scratch glass，which is very precious. Hetian Jade can be classified into white, green, blue, yellow and black, etc. and the white one is the most precious. Among the various Hetian jade, Yangzhi(mutton fat) jade is considered the best of the white jade. Mutton-Fat Jade is the first-class item of Hetian-White-jade. It is very rare and only produced in Xinjiang. Its texture is pure and delicate. And its content of Toushan-Stones is nearly 99%. It is white and appears the reserved bright as coagulated grease. The same weight of jade material, the value of Hetian jade is many times of other jade. Han, Song, and Qianlong of Qing dynasty, people all very adore Mutton-Fat Jade.

Hetian jade has a history of more than 2,000 years, originating in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC). In ancient times, Hetian jade was transported into the Central Plains in batches and then engraved into all kinds of exquisite sacrificial vessels and jade ornaments. The Jade Clothes Sewn with Gold Threads unearthed in a Western Han Tomb in Heibei Province is made of 2,000-odd pieces of Hetian jade. Through the ages, Hetian jade had been considered a priceless treasure. we can see only high officials were buried with jade articles.

 

Jade has a history in China of at least four thousands years. Unknown to some, jade is found contained within the development of religion and civilization, having moved from the use of decoration on to the others such as the rites of worship and burial. Although other materials like gold, silver and bronze were also used, none of these have ever exceeded the spiritual position that jade has acquired in peoples' minds - it is associated with merit, morality, grace and dignity. In the funeral objects of the people of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), for example, we can see only high officials were buried with jade articles.

Jade has influenced all walks of life. In ancient times, people expressed abstract notions with concrete patterns of Chinese character, which were influenced by Taoism and Buddhism. Jade craftworks were among the most precious and luxurious ones; people wore and decorated rooms to indicate loyalty, elegance, beauty, and eternity. The most popular patterns were: peach (longevity), mandarin duck (love), deer (high official ranks), bat (blessing), fish (affluence), double phoenixes (thriving), bottle (safety), lotus (holiness), bamboo (lofty conduct), and fan (benevolence), etc.

In Chinese, jade is pronounced as 'Yu', and most words related to moral include this word such as 'Unpolished jade never shines,' indicating that one cannot be a useful person if he is not educated. Jade also implied honor and conviction. Many girls in ancient times were also named with jade to reflect the love of their parents. One of the Four Beauties in Chinese history, Yang Yuhuan, the beloved concubine of Emperor Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), was their representative. Yang is her surname and her given name Yuhuan means simply 'jade ring'.

People believed that jade was the expression of the most beautiful stone. A beautiful piece can be more valuable than fifteen cities and a man's life. Historic records tell of a story about a stanch man named Bian He who had a piece of Hetian jade called 'Heshi Bi' which was said to be the most priceless treasure in history. However, when Bian He discovered the piece, it was hidden under the veil of the coarse stone in which it laid. He did not dare to carve it but instead dedicated it to the King of State Chu. He never knew that he would pay two legs for his dedication, for the king did not know the real value of the jade and cut Bian He's legs off. He cried for three days and nights. Afterwards, the new king heard of him and wanted to see whether his jade was as precious as he said. When the jade was cut, all were startled by the delicate quality. Very soon, it became a national treasure and was called 'Heshi Bi'. So precious was the stone that it even became a source of conflict between the Qin State and Zhao State.

 

Hetian Jade/:In China, the most reputable jade producing area is Hetian in Xinjiang Province. Hetian Jade was used to create many utilitarian and ceremonial objects, ranging from indoor decorative items to jade burial suits. Hetian Jade was considered the "imperial gem". From about the earliest Chinese dynasties until present, the jade deposits in most use were from the region of Hetian in the Western Chinese province of Xinjiang There, white and greenish Hetian jade is found in small quarries and as pebbles and boulders in the rivers flowing from the Kuen-Lun mountain range northward into the Takla-Makan desert area. River jade collection was concentrated in the Yarkand, the White Jade River|White Jade (Yurungkash) and Black Jade (Karakash) Rivers. on the southern leg of the Silk Road, yearly tribute payments consisting of the most precious white jade were made to the Chinese Imperial court and there transformed into objets d'art by skilled artisans as jade was considered more valuable than gold or silver.

Serpentine Jade:or Xiu jade in Chinese, is mainly from Xiuyan County in Liaoning Province. Made of many different ingredients, it takes on various appearances: white, yellow, light yellow, pink, green, dark green, light green and so on. This type of jade is usually coloured in various shades of green. Usually serpentine jade is semi-transparent or even opaque like wax.

Lantian Jade:is produced in Lantian County, north of Xian in Shaanxi Province. It was also among the most charming ancient jades, for its rigidity made it easier to be carved into decorations and jewelry by our ancestors. The hue is uneven in colors of yellow or light green.

Nanyang Jade:Nanyang County in Henan Province is famous for its abundant Nanyang jade. The ore district is located on an isolated 200 meter high hill, called Dushan Hill (thus its other name of 'Dushan jade'). It is distinctive for its whimsicality. Among the Nanyang jade artworks, you will find rare purple, blue and red ones.

Jadeite:or Burma Fei Cui Jadeite As early as the 16th century, Jadeite was believed to be a precious and hard jade with healing qualities for the human stomach and kidneys. Since it was brought into China during the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911), it had been doted on greatly. Jadeite contains an iron component which appears red, chromium that appears green, and many other colored types. Known as the 'king of jade', it is usually a more expensive type of jade.

 

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