Hongshan Jade

By KAKO CRISCI

The Hongshan culture came from the north-eastern part of China, around Liaoning, inner Mongolia, and close to the northern province of Hebei. Based on the findings at the Niuheliang site, the Hongshan demonstrated that they had a highly developed pyramide-shape society where the person that had the unique gift to communicate wit

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dynastic Jade Gallery
• Release date: Aug 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986702834

Book preview

Abstract

The Hongshan culture came from the north-eastern part of China, around Liaoning, inner Mongolia, and close to the northern province of Hebei. Based on the findings at the Niuheliang site, the Hongshan demonstrated that they had a highly developed pyramide-shape society where the person that had the unique gift to communicate with the gods was the leader of that community.

Religion and secular activities were merged, and they used their temples, altars, and burial mounds to connect and maintain their social system.

Hongshan culture lasted nearly 2000 years. During this period, they created some of their most outstanding jade. Jade is among the most well-preserved remnants of their culture.

Unlike pottery, jade was not meant to be used for daily activities. It is a unique window that allows us to understand the Hongshan belief system, their way of thinking, their perception of life and society.

Toward the late 1980s, our knowledge of these people expanded considerably. In this book, the author started with what jade was, how jade was made, what kind of jade were made to the meaning of jade to Hongshan people, step by step to guide you into the wonderful longevity of jade culture,bring to light the exceptional craftsmanship of the oldest jade group.

More than fifty illustrations and photographs of unique jade artworks open a unique window of appreciation for the oldest, most imaginative jade, full of mysterious beauty.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my grandfather, who loved me dearly. His memory continues to give me strength.

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the following for their help, advice, and support, in particular, the extraordinary work of scholars such as Guo Dasun, Deng Shuping, and Jessica Rawson, among many, provided me with a solid foundation from which I was able to put in writing the history of the Hongshan jade. I am indebted to them and profoundly grateful for their exceptional contribution to better understanding our past. And the many scholars, experts, museum curators whose work helped my research, the dedicated collectors who advised and guided my search, my husband Vincent who supports me and encourages me, and the many who contributed in bringing the project to life.

I am grateful for their unwavering support and contribution.

Table of contents

Preface

Jade material

Why jade?

How jade was made

1. First step: Cutting open a jade block.

2. Grooving away or wearing away

3. Drilling holes

4. Openwork

5. Polishing.

Section one: Cloud-shape plaques

1-1. Hongshan plaque with cloud shapes

1-2. Cloud shape plaque

1-3. Jade couple with cloud shapes

Section two: Bi disc

2-1. Squarish bi disc

2-2. Triangle bi

2-3. wave-shaped bi disc,

2-4. Serpentine Ax

2-5. Lotus leaf

2-6. Engraved disc bi

2-7. Three holes jade composition

2-8. Jade pendant with three holes

2-9. Double ring white jade.

2-10. Small rounded double ring jade

2-11. Green jade ax

Section three: Coiled dragon

3-1. Jade coiled pig-dragon

3-2. Serpentine coiled pig-dragon

3-3. Highly polished coiled pig-dragon

Section Four: Armguard pieces

4-1. Jade armguard

4-2. Xiuyan jade armguard

4-3. Serpentine bracelet

Section Five: Animals

5-1. Single form animal

5-1-1. Turtle ring

5-1-2. Dark-red jade cicada

5-1-3. Eagle head cicada

5-1-4. Eagle belt buckle

5-1-5. Coiled dragon jade scepter

5-1-6. Stretched dragon-shaped scepter

5-1-7. Green-grey fish

5-1-8. Coiled dragon Xi.

5- 2. Other pairing combinations

5-2-1. Dragon and Eagle bracelet

5-2-2. Eagle and cicada

5-2-3. Human-like eagle, bear, and cicada combination

5-2-4. Cow, fox and worm combination

5.3. Human and animal combination

5-3-1. Katydid with a human face

5-3-2. Snail-shaped expecting figure

Section Six: Sun-God

6-1. Sun-God as a cow figure

6-2. Expecting woman and tiger

6-3. Human figure with cow horns and ears

Section Seven: Hoof-shaped tubes

7-1. Hoof-shaped oval tube

7-2. Square-shaped hoof tube

Two female figures

References

Iconography

About the Author

Preface

The Chinese civilization is one of the oldest persistent civilizations in the world. One measure of its longevity is the constant use of jade in its culture. From the Neolithic to the present time, jade is the only object which continuously reflects, among its many ancient art forms, the 8,000 years of Chinese