Page 11 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Chang e Wha Collection of Jades

THE AWE INSPIRING BEAUTY OF

THE TWO HAN DYNASTIES

Hsiung Yi-Ching

Duke Mu of Qin reached the position of one of the Five Hegemons Although Confucianism became the dominant philosophy after Wudi
of Spring and Autumn in the mid-Spring and Autumn period; and Emperor, Daoist and Legalist ideas were incorporated in the Han
Duke Xiao of Qin, advised by Shang Yang in regulatory reforms, was ideology. The Han period valued popular literature and art, showing
one of the Seven Powers of Warring States. In 221 BC, Ying Zheng, the inclusivity of its culture. Classism and romanticism; stability and
the King of Qin, conquered the other six states to become the first flexibility; gravity and dexterity; tradition and creativity; heroism and
emperor of China, known as Qin Shihuangdi. The Qin Dynasty lasted serenity; naivety and refinement; these contrasts make Han culture
only 15 years, and ended when Liu Bang entred the Guanzhong Basin, and art appear at the same time orthodox yet ground breaking, full of
prompting Zi Ying to surrender. vitality as well as solemnity, forming an all-encompassing style.
The Qin Dynasty, although short-lived, has many accomplishments: Spanning 426 years, the Han Dynasty was mostly a prosperous trading
the standardisation of the writing system, carriage width, measuring nation with immense power, and its vigor as a great nation and its
system and coinage system; the building of expressways, the Honggou cosmopolitan characteristics are reflected in excavated objects of this
and Lingqu canals; the systems of management and selection of officials. period, especially in the high quality craftsmanship and use of material
The basic structures of government, law, economy and taxation of the jades.
were formed during this time and inherited and built upon by the
Han Dynasty. In art and culture, apart from the astounding discovery Due to the success of the Silk Road, the lustrous and fine ‘Khotan jade’
of the terracotta army, it is very rare to find examples from this period was now obtainable from thousands of miles away, and became the
due to the short reign. The jade figures (lot 2701) are one of those preferred material to make jades for the Han aristocracy, replacing
rare examples. the locally sourced materials of mixed quality that have been popular
since the Shang and Zhou periods. The reverence placed on jade by
Qin’s demise was followed by the short Chu-Han Contention War, Confucianism also makes jade the de rigueur ornament of choice.
won by Liu Bang, who established Han Dynasty. Han Dynasty was
divided into Western Han (202 BC – 9 AD) and Eastern Han (25 – 220 Han dynasty jades have a wide variety of shapes and forms. The ritual
AD), and often called The Two Han Dynasties by historians. Western objects mostly follow the traditions of Warring States jades, while
Han was established by Liu Bang, the Gaozu Emperor (256 or 247 – ornamental, utility or burial jades are much more inventive and many
195 BC), with its capital in Chang’an. Eastern Han was established by new styles appeared after Wudi Emperor’s reign. In ornamental jades,
Liu Xiu, the Guangwu Emperor (5 BC – 57 AD), with its capital in new forms such as jade dancers, archer’s-ring pendants, Weng Zhong
Luoyang. There is a short Xin Dynasty (9 BC – 23 AD) established by figures, gangmao pendants and ‘compass’ pendants appeared. Animal
Wang Mang (45 BC – 23 AD). carvings in the round such as bixie, bear, tiger, buffalo, ram, pig,
tortoise, eagle etc. are lifelike and animated, in beautifully lustrous
The Han culture and arts are nourished from various rich sources, materials, and have become important symbols of Han Dynasty
incorporating the Chu Culture of middle Yangtze River region, the jade carving.
Qi-Lu Culture of lower Yellow River region around Mt. Tai, the
Zhongyuan Culture in the middle Yellow River region; the Guanzhong As iron tools became more widely used, lapidary techniques greatly
Basin Culture of the upper Yellow and Wei River region, the Northern advanced in the Two Han Dynasties. Hollowing, pierced designs,
Culture (Yan-Zhao Culture) in Huabei, around the Haihe River polishing, inlay work, wheel cutting, loose rings, relief work etc. were
region. It also includes the Bashu Culture to the southwest, the Wu- well developed by this time. In particular, Han badao (eight-cut) and
Yue Culture in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, and the Lingnan Culture yousi ke (curving-string thread carving) are two of the most important
to the south of the Wuling Mountains. techniques developed in the Han period.
The two western expeditions of Zhang Qian (164 -114 BC) saw the The Beijing Palace Museum has a concise description for Han badao:
beginning of communications between China and the Central Asian ‘There is a unique recess carving technique in ancient Chinese lapidary.
countries, and the start of the flourishing trade between East and West, This technique first appeared on jade bi discs of late Warring States
which enabled the forming of Silk Road and laid the foundation for period, and reached maturity in the Han period. It is often seen on jade
the future establishment of Xiyu Duhu (Protectorate of the Western cicadas, pigs, Weng Zhong figures and some jade bi discs decorated with
Regions). Ban Chao (32-102) of Eastern Han, stationed at the western kui dragons or phoenixes. The technique does not consist of eight knife
frontier for 30 years, oversaw the continuing economic and cultural cuts as its name suggests, but involves the use of angled wheel cut, so
exchanges between Han and the western countries and secured the is also called daxiedao (very angled cut). The carving is very sharp and
western borders. The Silk Road and the trade with the west brought done neatly as if in one stroke, almost without any traces of individual
many artistic and cultural influences, making Han Dynasty the first wheel marks. Also the recess is polished right down to the end, giving
cosmopolitan culture in Chinese history. the illusion that it has been cut by a knife, and looks very minimal
and effective.’

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