Page 128 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China

A pair of clawed feet, also represented by winding decoration. Several theories have been proposed to
ribbons, extends from beneath the jaws. Two human explain the remarkable advances in carving tech-
faces, rendered in profile and wearing feather head- nology that these middle-period plaques display. A
dresses, flank the central image, while ribbons and plausible hypothesis suggests that Liangzhu crafts-
spirals interweave to create an intricate network men developed a heating process to soften the
that links the monster and human faces. Fluent en- surface of jade, and that the creamy white color of
graved lines lend a tactile quality to the lustrous Middle Liangzhu jades is not the result of burial but
surface. rather of heating the stone to more than 900 de-
Among numerous jade plaques excavated over grees Celcius (a temperature achievable in pottery
5
the past twenty years, those from Fanshan and Yao- kilns of the period). A simulation test found that
shan in northern Zhejiang province are the most while the composition and structure of the jade
2
ornate. No two examples bear identical designs, remains constant after heating, its specific gravity
and it may be that their distinctiveness served to and hardness are reduced — the latter by three to
define the individuality of their owner. The context four degrees on the Mohs scale. This significant
and function of these plaques are still unknown. reduction in the stone's hardness would have facili-
The plaques are characteristically worked down to tated carving to a great extent, improving the shap-
a stepped edge at the bottom and pierced with a ing process as well as permitting the extensive use
row of small holes, perhaps to attach the plaque to of incised scrollwork, zs
a piece of garment or an object made of perishable
material. They may also have been components of 1 Excavated in 1986 (M 16:4). No complete reports have yet
been published on these excavations; only two brief
a larger assemblage such as headgear, an interpre- reports (on major tombs and significant objects) have so
tation suggested by the discovery of plaques among far appeared. See Zheijiang 19883,1-31. This jade is not
beads and pendants in the Fanshan and Yaoshan included in the report.
3
tombs. Given the diverse shapes of Liangzhu jades, 2 Zhejiang 19883,19 -21, figs. 31, 35, 36, 39 - 44; Zhejiang
I988b, 40 - 43, figs. 20, 24. for more detailed
photographic
a large variety of combinations can be made by reproductions, see Zhejiang 1989, pis. 112,115,120,121,122.
3 Zhejiang 19883,19 - 21, fig. 4; Zhejisng i988b, 40 -43,
arranging the trapezoidal plaques with various
figs. 2, 25.
beads, pendants, and fittings. 4 Excavated in 1987 (M 11:86); reported: Zheijiang 19883,
4
The second plaque (b) is precisely symmetri- 20-21.
5 Wen 3nd Jing 1992, 266.
cal and consistent in thickness. Exact lines and
sharp edges delineate its contour, testimony to the
craftsman's skillful and assured hands. Amid inter-
laced ribbons and spirals, a monster face emerges
— with large circular eyes, a broad nose, and a
wide-open mouth with protruding tusks, all exe-
cuted in fine engraved lines. As in earlier examples,
the lines are formed of repeated short cuts, but
here more finely and fluently executed. Above the
monster face, an oval opening has been cut with
great precision; four small holes are drilled at regu-
lar intervals along the stepped lower edge. The
surface of the plaque is finished to a soft gloss.
This plaque is an excellent example of Middle
Liangzhu jades, which are characterized by their
exact and fluent lines, precise cuts, smoothly pol-
ished surfaces, and, above all, intricate surface

127 I L I A N C Z H U C U L T U R E