Specific Jade Pieces Related to Certain Historical and Artistic Issues, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Jade is defined as a semiprecious gemstone, an ornamental stone that takes a high polish, usually green but sometimes whitish, yellowish or any other color, consisting of jadeite or nephrite. In history, jade was a term applied to ornamental stones imported from China into Europe. It is an English term derived from the Spanish “piedra de ijada” meaning loin stone, a word coming from the believe that jade had the power to cure kidney ailments, in fact at some point jade was prescribed for kidney diseases. The name nephrite, a type of jade is of similar origin, derived from lapis nephriticus meaning kidney stone (Fry Roger, Binyon Laurence, 76).

There are two sources of jade, namely: jadeite and nephrite. Jadeite is a hard green mineral consisting of sodium aluminum silicate in monoclinic crystal form and is a source of jade found principally in Burma and Central America (Fry Roger, Binyon Laurence, 76). Jadeite is a pyroxene and not an amphibole mineral.  It is also referred to as the new jade. It is colorless when pure and more translucent than nephrite. Compared to nephrite, jadeite is not as tough and breaks with a granular fracture. Jardeite can present with a wide variety of colors, including apple, green, purple and pink. The emerald green is colored by chromium. Iron in the jadeite makes the mineral have the color of brown or green, while the presence of manganese in the mineral makes it have the violet color.

The Nephrite is an amphibole mineral which consists of a mixture of calcium magnesium silicate, to form monocyclic crystals. Nephrite is a less important source of jade compared to jadeite. It varies in color from brown to various shades of green and black. It varies from semi translucent (for example green British Columbian and New Zealand Lade) to almost opaque (for example black Cowell and Wyoming jade). Nephrite is also referred to as the ancient jade. It is tougher than steel and can be used to make equipments such as axes. The original nephrites came from the Sinkiang province of china (Hackin Joseph, 49).

Jade carving started in Chinese culture and has spread to the rest of the world cultures. It is mostly associated with green color though it may come in other different colors such as blue and yellow, white, black, among others. In some other parts of the world like in central Australia, some other minerals sush as serpentinite and another stone that closely resembles jadeite known as Maw-sit-sit. Maw-sit-sit is a rare green gemstone that has a dark green to black veining, and white sports sometimes. It is found in in a place calledMaw-sit-sit in Myanmar, Burma, mostly near jadeite deposits or sometimes together in the same mine with jadeite but it is not actually a type of jade. Other minerals found in Australia which are bright apple green chrysoprase have been mistaken for jade and sometimes sold as jade.

In the past, several colors of jade have been attributed to different meanings and uses such as, in China, bluish jades meaning heavens, yellow jades meaning the earth, green jades meaning the east,, red jades meaning the south, white jades meaning the west and black jades meaning the north. Jade has also a mystical component, larger than any other gem material. In Chinese culture, jade gives a ranging mystical component raging from the proverbial ridiculous to the sublime. This is the reason as to why it is commonly used in the worship places of the Chinese people. It is closely associated with Asian culture, history and tradition and is sometimes called the stone of heaven.

This culture, history and tradition associated with jade have been passed from a generation to another generation of the Asian community by use of the jade articles and carvings passed by the parents to their children. Chinese preferred jade over any other stone and they considered it very sacred. It was commonly used in worship places. Jade can be classified in terms of it pattern, texture, time, place and use.

Pattern of Jade

There are two patterns of jade which are, the morning dew jade and the leopard jade. The morning dew jade is greenish jade sprinkled with glistening specks. Most people in China like this type of pattern, as opposed to the leopard pattern. The leopard jade is a spotted jade with its patter roughly representing that of leopards’ coats.

Texture

In terms of the texture of the jade pieces can be classified as chicken bone jade or soft jade. The chicken bone jade has an off-white color and exhibits a yellowish discoloration. The soft jade looks like mutton fat.

Time

Han Yu jade was fashioned during the Han dynasty, while the Chin jade was made during the Chin dynasty. Here the jade type is determined by the era when the jade was made. Jades of different dynasties differ depending on complexity, craftsmanship, shape, applications and the varieties

Place

Burma jade is made from jadeite from mines in Mogaung, upper Burma; Shanghai jade is jade marketed in Shanghai, Tangawaite jade is a nephritic jade from New Zealand

Use

The jade in this category is grouped according to who uses it. Examples are the Maori stone and Mayaite jade. The Maori jade is used by the Maori while the Mayaite jade is used by the Mayas in Central America.

Chinese Archaic Jade

Jade best demonstrates the aspects of Chinese culture which are most valuable and at the same time adding aesthetic value to the Chinese culture. It is a beautiful stone and most people admire it for its hardness, its translucent colors and warm brilliance. Due to its good qualities as a stone the ancient Chinese men found it very important to express the virtues of a perfect Chinese gentleman. Ancient texts such as Li Ji shows  the importance of jade to a gentle man who, by  wearing  pendants made of jade made him achieve a high moral standard in the society in addition to being part of his ornamental make up. With time jade became a symbol of everything that is good, pure, noble, and sublime and all that is associated with good in the Chinese culture. Any person wearing a jade ornament was seen as a holy person in the Chinese community.

The history of Chinese jade articles and writings dates back to more than seven thousand years. They were characterized by a wide range of applications, multiple varieties, peculiar designs, colorful hues, beautiful and delicate designs made in very complex manner, unique styles and excellent craftsmanship. They represent extraordinary art works and artistic fortunes for the Chinese people as well as a bright star in the gallery of world arts.

As early as two thousand, nine hundred and fifty BC, jade was treasured in China as the royal gemstone. This type of gemstone was called the green essence of heaven and earth and it was considered as a unifier of five important virtues of life, which are the being brave, being modesty, having justice in the society, having wisdom and modesty in the society. The Chinese considered jade as a preservative of a dead body, preventing it from decomposition, when powdered and mixed with water and taken just before death. For this reason, jade is commonly found in tombs of emperors several thousand years after their death. One of the tombs had a full suite made of jade completely to assure the living that that person is physical immortal although he is dead.

According to Michelson Carol, Portal Jane (2000), compared to steel, nephrite is far much stronger and was put into use in many early civilizations including making of axes, knives, weapons and agricultural tools. Jade carving was introduced into china about seven thousand years ago, with most articles made ceremonies or rituals. One war lord is recorded to have exchanged fifteen cities he had captured with his army for just a dish made of the white jade. Several carvings were made of the jade pieces, including jade lion and jade elephant in the nineteenth century.

History of Chinese Archaic Jade

As stated above, it dates back to seven thousands years ago. The development of this artistic work goes through the new Stone Age, (Neolithin), Hsia, Shang, Chou, and Chun Chiu, the warring states, Chin, Tang, Sung, Han, Tuan, Ming and Chin dynasties. In all these areas, the process of development differs from one place to another and can be traced in various areas of development as follows

New Stone Age/ Neolithin

In this era, ornamental jade plaques unearthed from the remains of Hsing Lung culture in Chih Feg,. Inner Mongolia prove that the ancestors of the Chinese nation were the first people that used jade ornaments on earth since those discovered jade plaques can be dated to Neolithic stage which is seven thousand years ago. There were very many sports where jade articles were unearthed meaning a wide distribution of this jade mineral. Such places where the jade articles were discovered such as Che Chiang province are still part of the areas where jade is mined today. These places that produced the jade articles during this era have multiplied considerably.

Distribution areas were more extensive, amount and type of articles unearthed were considerable, and craftsmanship was more delicate and extends of application enlarged. A large amount of archaic jade was found at regions of Hung Shan culture and Liang Chu culture showing some relevance of this artistic material to those two cultures and their use in them. The two cultures have a characteristic of tremendous varieties. They were characterized by excellent craftsmanship in manufacturing, they were widely applied and they had a very extensive distribution area, which can be said to be among the good days of the Neothilic age in china. During the process of development of the jade art works, the number, the variations, the distribution areas increased gradually.

Hsia Dynasty

Jade articles acted as a representative in the Hsia culture. Their designs and the styling of the ornaments of these articles at the historical remains of their development is similar to the traditions of the culture of Lung Shan in the Shun Tung province and Liang Chu culture in the Che Chiang province. Although less jade articles have been unearthed in the region of Hsia dynasty, the few unearthed jade articles indicate that there is an inheritance relationship between the two cultures and also show that  the jade articles of that place are not as well developed as those of the culture of Lung Shan. However there were also some unique innovations in crafts developed in the culture of Hsia such as the new invention of the curving stroke which is hook-back carving.

Shang Dynasty

Jade articles developed faster in the late Shang dynasty, with the number and the variety of these articles increasing significantly and displaying excellent craftsmanship in their making. From a tomb of a Shang woman , it was unearthed more than seven hundred jade articles, of various types, including vessels for rituals, ornaments, utensils and other more objects. There was also appearance of jade articles with fanciful colors from the grave. The carving stroke of double hook, lines was also inverted to produce a pattern of decorations. This led to formation of a distinct Yang line showing between an area of Yin lines which are not distinct, and are formed by two lines which are parallel, therefore making the picture to appear more vivid and animated. This discovery also reveals that there was a new development in the jade articles in this hang dynasty.

West Chou Dynasty

The amount and variety of jade articles unearthed here are not as many as those unearthed in the Shang dynasty, meaning the jade articles of this culture are not developed very well when compared to the culture of Shang dynasty. The articles here have inherited the double lined hook stroke used by Shang dynasty as a pattern of decorating their carving techniques; with added peculiar representatives who are like slanted (mask) design. Because their patterns of decoration on jade articles are more carefully and neatly designed, they show more restraint rather than of the liveliness as witnessed Shang dynasty.

Chun Chiu Period

Jade articles developed in this period are more developed than those developed in the period of the West Chou era. A piece of unearthed jade article contained twenty one units of ornamental jade; hence the artistic beauty of jade plaque is reinforced. This also reflects the level of development of jade plaque carving at that time.

Warring States Era

Jade articles developed at this era had advanced progress and also created another peak. There were numerous varieties and incredible craftsmanship as evidenced by the unearthed jade articles in addition to the past down articles from this era. Epochal features formed the great amounts of the jade plagues, with shapes of dragon, phoenix and tiger as well as multiple star-shaped and s-shaped designs.

There was also a multi-knotted jade plaque unearthed from the tomb of an official in Hu Pei Province in the early phase of the warring states era and the large jade Huang unearthed at the Ku Wei village, Hui country, Ho Nan province which were among the first creations to forming an integral part of jade plaque and jade Huang which had several pieces of jade jointed. The jade articles of this era were very beautiful and displayed great craftsmanship in the way they were made. During this era, jade articles underwent a lot of development.

Chin Dynasty

In this era, few jade articles were unearthed and passed-down were discovered, hence the true face of the caving of this dynasty are not very clear. However, it is clear that jade articles of this era are not quite developed like rest of the dynasties, but the archaeological data to proof this is not sufficient.

Han Dynasty

There were a great number of jade articles with changing varieties unearthed in this era which resembled the carvings of the Warring states era. They also showed a lot of new developments in their artistic work, with the major one being the application of the piercing (hollowing-out) technique, hence breaking the traditional practice of symmetric design commonly used during the Warring States period, therefore achieving the artistic design of tractability and variation by successfully practicing the balance approach. In this era also, the ornaments also underwent development such sketching method. In general, the development of jade reached a higher level in the Han dynasty.

Three Nations, Chin and North and South Periods

Development of jade art in this period was at the lowest stage, with scarce unearthed jade articles, with the few unearthed particles carrying down the style of Han dynasty.

Tang Dynasty

The number of unearthed jade articles in this era is not many but the craftsmanship in this period is very complex. The artists had very good skills of understanding the meaning of traditional cultural painting of the Chinese people, their sculpture art and those of western and then produce a jade carving with many styles during the middle Tang period which also reflected the lives of the noble families and the rich people.

Sung, Liao, Chin Rra

These three nations were divided and very hostile to each other and had a lot of fighting and wars but they maintained a close cultural relationship, communication and economic exchanges. This resulted in a shared progress and development of the jade carving. Jade vessels of this time were closely related to reality, with most of them belonging to practical jade articles such as the cups of South Sung and pierced carvings of the North Sung. Well up people used to collect jade articles and other precious curios and then would give them away as presents to the people they love, leading to a trend of fabrication. In this era, jade articles were also used as rewards to people who have done good acts. They were also used as the mode of payment after an employee had completed a duty given by the employer in these states.

Yuan Dynasty

They followed the style of jade carving of the Liao and Chin era but with an element of relief added to the carving style. There was a pattern of a sea god-beast curved on the surface of these articles that showed the bold and the unconstrained spirit of these people to a full extent. The jade images were very useful in Chinese worship places with big jade articles elevated in roof tops of almost all the worship buildings.

Ming and Chin Dynasties

The development of the Chinese jade articles reaches its most advanced stage of development at this stage. There were numerous amounts of jade articles passed down which have gorgeous design, delicate and fine carving craft and wide applications which cannot be compared to carving of another period (Nick Lawrence, 33). Jade articles in Ming and Chin dynasties also are of a wide variety including, jade wine cups, jade plates, cups with pine pine tree and figure design.

Conclusion

In summary, the development of Chinese jade articles dates back to seven years, during which there was an inheritance relationship between different stages of their development. Jade art is the only art maintaining a close relationship with human daily life. The Chinese value this mineral in the same way many nations value gold or silver or diamond. The beautiful carvings of the jade mineral are present in worship areas, schools and hospitals, among other public institution, hence showing the importance the Chinese community attach to this mineral. It is a very precious mineral in China and this is spreading to other parts of the word very fast.

Work Cited

Fry Roger, Binyon Laurence, Chinese art: an introductory handbook to painting, Sculpture, ceramics, (1935) Victoria Albert museum snippet view pp 76.

Hackin Joseph, Studies in Chinese art and some Indian influences, (1936), Indian society, London, pp 49.

Michelson Carol, Portal Jane, Chinese art in detail (2006), Harvard University press, America,

Nick Lawrence, the Artistic Impressionism Journal of Traditional Arts (2000), 22, pp 33