The Jade Pendant, Research Paper Example

The Jade Pendant is one of the many jadeware that were made all over the history of the Chinese culture for thousand of years. Jade pendant accessory have in their stride been a hallmark of the Chinese art and skill using Jade to create artifacts for religious, beauty, privilege or for trade purposes. The essence of the Jade pendant is depicted in the history of jade, which is the material upon which the artifacts were made. Through the Jade, pendants and other pieces of jadeware were made by Chinese artisans in ancient times, where the carvings were diversified articles in varied patterns that expressed the different meanings that were at one time under the influence of Confucianism and Buddhism school of thought. In this respect, the Jade Buddha popular patterns were made as charms to influence the elements by driving off evil spirits, while others such as fish were for affluence, bat for blessing, and peach for longevity while deer was for safety purposes. Wearing a jade pendant, as an amulet or possessing it in any shape was seen as a way of creating balance in the body through improving body health and driving off diseases through the abstraction of some key elements. The ancient jade pendant as in the jade art is seen in different limelight’s, upon which key facts that surround the jadeware are observed.  A good example of the jade pendant that was made in the ancient periods in china is the ancient Ceremonial disc (bi) Jade pendant of Chinese; Eastern Zhou Period 4th-3rd century, B.C. this type of jade had a lot of importance in the culture of the Chinese people in this period. Its importance is always seen in the different areas that it had been used in the society.

This pendant was called the ‘bi’ because of its shape. It had a flat surface with a perforated opening at the centre. Ike many other jade pendants, the Bi pendant had all significance and functions that were allocated to the jade made objects and more so jade pendants. Its significance has changed from time to time in the history of the Chinese people since its origin from the Eastern Zhou people.

History

In China, there is a familiar saying that Gold is very valuable but jade is equally invaluable. This is a dispatch of the importance the Chinese hold the artistic gem stone and it is something represented throughout the Chinese history. In many cultures, there has been a jade culture, but in China, you have something you can reflect on the holistic history of the republic. Jadeware in China has been reflected in virtually every segment of the history, from the history, culture, privilege, burial emblems for the rich to the artistry that has been prevailing over the years. As sign of showing the importance of the jade Bi disc in the ancient China, during periods of war, soldiers were stripped off their Bi disc jade pendants. As a sign of surrender, soldiers also stripped off their Bi disc jade pendants and gave them to their enemies. Its value was more than life and often it was compared to heaven.

The jadeware culture in China has been one long process of development, believed to have started from as early as 10,000 years ago during the New Stone age to the present day. The earliest Jade pendant artifacts in China were pieces of serpentine stoneware that were unearthed in Liaoning Province that dated to 12,000 years ago in the New Stone Age. Others that followed were minute hanging articles that were dated back to 7,000 years ago from Zhejiang Province. Throughout this elaborate period, the jade pendants were mainly for decoration purposes.

For all the changes in the history of use of jade and jade artistic items in the history of china, the Bi disc jade pendant has had a lot of changes but still maintained it shape. Some of the most significant changes that were witnessed in the Bi pendant are changes in its size and texture. With the adoption of the jade Bi pendant by other Chinese people, also its significance in the different cultures never changed. It still occupied special position in the lives of all the cultures that adopted it.

Cultural Significance of the Bi Disc Jade Pendant of the Eastern Zhou Periods

Within the Chinese culture, jade has taken a central place with traces of the jade pendants and other artifacts symbolizing purity, nobility and purity, where they were integrated in the phrases and idioms denoting beautiful people, as well s their moral. In this respect, Jade was termed as ‘Yu’, which is seen many Chinese names, from naming of babies, mostly girls, which implied intense blessings for the girls. In fact, the Faithfull’s of Confucianism ended up considering in their wisdom that any ‘honored man should wield the virtues of the jade.’ The jade pendant is also found deep rooted in Chinese stories, depicting the significance of jade in its entirety to the Chinese people in ancient times. Besides having all the above functions of the Zhou people, the Bi disc pendant had additional function. It was usually worn with beads strung together to make an ornament worn around the waist. It was also worn around the neck.

The Zhou pendant has been found in many burial sites and tombs for royalties in the society. Their role has often been associated with them being used to guard the departed in after life. Often replicas of the Bi disc jade pendants were used for those who did not afford the jade Bi pendants. Laufer (120) describes that the way that the Bi pendants were worn, across the face, can suggest that they were used not only for display of the dead but also to protect the departed from malign forces.

In official functions, together with other pendants, the Bi pendant was worn to produce tingling sound. Such sounds protected officials from effects of evil spirits when in official meetings.

Significance of the Jade Pendant Shapes and Patterns

The Bi disc jade pendants had different significance to those who wore them in the Eastern Zhou periods. Its importance to the wearer dictated the type of shape and characteristic the jade pendant produced. The difference in shape of Bi disc can be seen in the different sizes and textures of the Bi discs worn by women, ordinary individuals, soldiers and the royalties. This difference was always seen according to the position that an individual occupied in the society. Although there different sizes or shapes of the Bi disc, there was however one uniting thing about them all, they were with beads.

With The techniques used in carving jade pendants and other artifacts were developed really fast and the pieces were carved in a requisite fashion. In the ancient times when mystery and folklore loomed, the patterns were largely of Phoenix and the dragon shapes and patterns that as treasured in modern times. For officials in public service, the jade pendants other jadeware were artifices of rank, since it was an order for them to showcase and differentiate rank through the use of the jade patterns. For instance, the Qin Dynasty emperor used the jade seal in his administration. In the preservation of corpses, the body of Liu Sheng of the Han Dynasty and the major ruler of Zhongshan State in 113 BC was buried in a burial suit that was of jade pendants and other pieces of the invaluable material, with 2,498 pieces strewn together using a gold thread (Rawson 87).

In the Ming Dynasty, there was a slight revolution in the uses of jade where they were not only used for decoration purposes but also for other practical purposes. In case other adornments were included apart from the normal jade pendants and type such s jade cup, bowls and pots. At this age in the history of jade, there was an inclusion of 6 more categories in terms of their functions, such as in tools, ornaments, vessel, ancient musical elements such as the jade flute and utensils. This age left masterpieces of jade with every change of the ruling dynast, as each period had its unique artistry in creating jade pendants and other artifacts.

The Dimensions of the Jade Bi Pendant

The material that created the Ancient Chinese jade pendants were made from two specific materials of the Jade raw material, namely the Jadeite and Nephrite. In both, different jade pendants and other jadeware artifacts were made, with each raw material having its own quality and usability that entrusted it to the artists and people who bought the artifacts (Watson 23).

Jadeite Pendants

The jadeite material that made the jadeite pendants was a very precious hard jade that had healing qualities for the human kidneys and human stomach. The Qing Dynasty is believed to have introduced it in China and was greatly doted. The Jadeite pendant contains a component made of iron that appears in red while its chromium type is depicted in green as well as in other colors. It is known as the King of Jade because of the types of pendants and other artifacts it makes and it is quite expensive.

The Nephrite Jade Pendants

Nephrite is very robust as a result of containing tremolite as well as the fact that it was sub-classified in terms of color from white, green, grey, black and topaz jade. The practice of jade pendant wearing is traceable all through the history of the Chinese culture. In the Neolithic age, the pendants had decorative shapes made in the shapes of tigers, beads and other shapes. The most important fact all along in the uses of jade was that it was a reserve of the dignitaries in the ancient China and it became a real symbol and emblem of wealth and power.

Growth of the Jade Pendant Culture

Up until the Song Dynasty, different types of the jade pendants were appearing because of the development of commerce and creative handicraft. The jade at early time was structurally complex in designs where it is dotted by rich gradation and perfected unity in spirit and form. It depicted the pendants strong flavor in terms of paintings. Change of culture and political class affected the growth of the jade pendants shape, use and associated class. In the Qing and Ming Dynasties, there was a greatly witnessed prosperity of the jade pendant culture, where the wearing of the jade pendants was highly placed and in vogue with the general public. Pendants were used concurrently by the dignitaries with girdles, with the jadeware ornaments being worn virtually everywhere around the body (Martin 56). Equally the Bi disc jade pendants held similar significance in the Zhou people.

Raw Material for Bi Jade Pendants

Jade pendants were made from celadonish jade, yellow and white jade, where together the suet type of white jade that was under production at Hetian, Xinjiang in the modern world, was very precious of all jades. Emerald jade was brought to China during the Qing Dynasty and well used for the production of minute articles, for instance ring face and other types of pendants. Every affluent age and dynasty in nature can be determined by the types, shapes and patterns as well s the raw materials that made the jade pendants.

The Jade Pendant Symbol

For thousand of years, Jade has been able adorning the echelons of the low and mighty, representing the most sought-after oriental jewelry in China mostly where it is treasured more than many other metals. In fact, jade pendants and other artifacts made of jade are considered priceless, while all other things have a price. In the world of reverence and worship, jade reigns mightily and regarded as the Stone of Heaven and anything made from it is a tool for the protection against devils and evil spirits. In the mythical dimension, jade pendants concurrently with other ornaments are believed to lead the mortal through the path of life to the realm of immortality as well as the way it makes the poor to strike it rich, save humanity from disaster and other mythical associations. This depicts the reason why many jade Buddha pendants were made in the ancient times to guard against evil and other issues in the nature of Chinese lifestyle. Throughout this time, jade has been evolving and symbolizing the image of kindness, peace, eternity and elegance, qualities that make the Jade pendants made from the creative hands of skillful Chinese men, to bring safety, wealth, longevity and health to all the people who wore the pendants.

To the ancient Chinese and a chunk of the modern population, Jade pendants are not just pieces of jewelry. For the classic or the contemporary, from the beautiful to the elegant, the jade pendants represent the balance of Chinese idealism in the line of jewelry and culture. For every jade pendant created, there was a mythical accomplishment that was achieved, while the desires of the rulers and bureaucrats of the day were accomplished and deciphered through the jade pendants and insignia they wore. Jade in the old Chinese times was life, and since life is priceless and sacred, so is jade. At one time when the old Chinese age required a ritual artifact for sacred assignments jade was there to save the day, as the hardness of the material, the decoration of the pendants and the ritual in mind called upon jadeware to be used.

Mythical Bi Jade Pendants

There are so many myths surrounding jade pendants as it would be expected from an artifact so revered and held with every breath of esteem as a not only priceless but as an invaluable treasure. Myths say the stone was sired during a rather unusual storm, where in ancient and modern times has people dotting their homes from the foundations, with jade to protect themselves from the hands of storms. The myth has it that jade was a crystallization of moonlight directly from the holy mountains. With such holy associations, jade was then believed to be the true incarnation of the principle of the cosmic. It is the reason it was believed to wield the five major virtues that were essential for human life within the Chinese philosophy, namely modesty, compassion, wisdom, justice and courage. It was also given lots of mythical credit in knowledge, benevolence, virtuousness, righteousness, music, morality, purity, endurance and ingenuousness. In fact the pendants made from jade explain the reverence of the stone and why it was regarded as priceless and as a symbol of the many virtues, mostly because of its glossy appearance and smooth texture that suggested the charity of the human heart while the hardness of the artifacts suggested wisdom and many other values that the jade stone and all its creations true pieces of respect, royalty and reverence. In fact to show how jade was life itself in the ancient times, there was a suggestion by the cream of the of the classics of the Chinese philosophy that were suggesting that Jade and its ware be created a rather special kind of ministry that would aid in the management of the stone and all its uses and the kind of artifacts that came from it, from pendants to armlets.

The uniqueness of Bi Jade pendants in the creation of distinct artifacts with each being so unique and original, as if having a mind f their own, the magical effect of  jade was accomplished. With the stone being used in each industry where man had an interest, the jade pendants are now believed to tell the history and age of the time within which they came in the hands of the carvers and for what reason. Every Bi jade pendant had its own characteristic that gave it a title, a use and age. The Kings of China throughout their distinct reigns discovered the beauty of the stone and the difference it wielded when compared with other stones, and to them the artifacts such as pendants were literally irresistible and had to be given some representations in the cultural aspect of the day. The essence of the jade artifacts, specifically the jade pendant, represents the needs of the current wishes and afflictions of the royalty and humanity at the time, since with each dynasty having a reason for the usage of the jade pendants and other jade items, there was an unsaid conviction that it was more than a colorful stone.

The philosophies of the Chinese age suggest the immortality of the stone, and the fact that every monarch and privileged in the society used the jade pendants perhaps to depict how immortal they were as well as their kingdom, notably the Qing Dynasty that brought tremendous usage for the stone. Men are always in search of an item that sounds and manifests the nature of and philosophy of immortality, and the jade stone was such a material in the ancient Chinese up to the current day. Perhaps there  is truth in the nature of the Chinese and the jade pendants as representing the incarnation of the cosmic and the order of the virtues all being immortal, for as long as dynasties and kingdoms fell and were forgotten, the jade pendant and other jade artifacts stood erect unscathed by time, depict immortality that still stands to day.

The Chinese Jade Pendant and Ancient Philosophy

In the ancient philosophy, clarity in the philosophy of the day was elucidated and held each of the jade pendants and other items from the invaluable stone. With that kind of a stone and the concurrent artifacts having such an impact on every spectrum of the Chinese ancient lifestyle, it is clear the fetishes and nature of the jade was more than an elegant element. Compared to gold, the jade was a vessel of the good tidings that follow every man, more so the one searching for good luck and opportunity in his current world. It is No wonder the jade pendant was not only a love of the kings, the quest of the bureaucrats and rich as well as the beckon of hope for the poor and ill. For a stone that cut across the chasms of each and every part of the culture of a people, it is prudent that the philosophy of life be drawn from the jade and perfected in the creations, where the jade pendant comes to play.

Conclusion

The ancient Chinese used gold and other minerals such as iron, but none came into the status of the jade. In the Eastern Zhou, Bi jade pendants and other items of affluence from the same stone was the cornerstone of society that found balance through the jade. From being an instrument of administration as a seal for the emperor, the insignia of the government officials to the item of the privileged down to the symbol of hope of affluence for the poor citizenry, the Bi Jade pendants are not items to color the history of the ancient Chinese only, but the life of a people who found balance in it.

Works Cited

Laufer, Berthold. Jade: A Study in Chinese Archeology & Religion. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2007.

Martin, Steven. The Art of Opium Antiques. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, 2007.

Rawson, Jessica. Chinese Jade throughout the Ages. London: Oriental Ceramic Society, 1975.

Watson, William. The Arts of China to AD 900. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000.