Page 39 - Christie's Hong Kong November 29, 2022 Chang e Wha Collection of Jades

漢代玉璧、玉環和玉珮

《爾雅·釋器》記載：「肉（周圍的邊）倍好（中間的孔） 顆粒較大，起凸淺，顆粒上部渾圓，紋樣精細；同時與龍紋、
謂之璧，好倍肉謂之瑗，肉好若一謂之環。」是指片狀圓形 鳳鳥紋、獸面紋、捲雲紋與吉祥文字的組合紋飾更是精采紛
玉器根據中央孔徑的大小，分為玉璧、玉瑗、玉環 三種。 陳；玉環上則多飾以情態豐富的透雕龍紋、鳳鳥紋…，雕工
精緻。
從考古出土實物的整理，發現古人製作玉器時對片狀圓形玉
器孔徑與器體的比例，並沒有嚴格的規定，因此習慣上寬邊 漢代玉器的製作，在器形、紋飾及工藝技術的發展上，都達
小孔徑統稱為「璧」，而窄邊大孔徑的稱為「環」，「瑗」 到歷史的高峰。以「玉珮」來說，不論是組玉或單件，造型、
就很少用了。 紋樣、圖式都充滿動態與變化，不拘泥於前朝傳承，而更具
藝術原創的巧思，使漢代玉珮的品種豐沛多元。在多元的造
玉璧，是中國玉器中出現最早並延續不斷的品種，《周禮· 型中，以龍、鳳紋為主要紋飾，輔以螭紋、勾連雲紋…，
春官宗伯》記載：以玉作六器，以禮天地四方：以蒼璧禮天，
再以游絲陰刻、鏤雕、浮雕…等技法精工而成。
以黃琮禮地，以青圭禮東方，以赤璋禮南方，以白琥禮西方，
以玄璜禮北方。」足見玉璧在禮器中的重要性。

漢代是玉璧、玉環製作的鼎盛時期，造型形式多變，有雙層
璧、三層璧、出廓璧、雙連璧、重環璧…等，使用範圍大增。
紋飾種類也極為豐富，璧上的穀紋，蒲紋、乳丁紋…等，

HAN DYNASTY BI, HUAN AND PENDANTS

In one of the oldest Chinese dictionary, Erya, it is recorded: ‘Those The Han Dynasty saw abundant productions of jade bi and huan
with a wall thickness twice the diameter of the aperture, we call discs. They come in many different forms: two-tier-decorated bi;
bi; those with a diameter of the aperture twice the thickness of the three-tier-decorated bi; flanged bi; conjoined bi; and pierced two-
wall, we call yuan; those with equal thickness of wall to diameter of tiered bi etc., with a wider range of usage. These are richly decorated,
aperture, we call huan.’ Thus the proportion of the aperture to the with larger, rounder and flatter studs on the grain pattern, rush-
wall determine whether a jade disc is called bi, yuan or huan. mat pattern and nipple pattern, combined with dragon, phoenix,
animal, cloud patterns or auspicious characters to stunning effect.
However, from excavated objects we find that there is not a strict The jade huan are often pierced with expressive dragon and phoenix
ratio when fashioning these discs. Therefore, generally speaking, decoration in fine craftsmanship.
those with a small aperture are called bi, while those with a large
aperture are called huan, while yuan is seldom used. Jade production in the Han Dynasty, whether in form, decoration
or craftsmanship, all reached a zenith in their development.
Jade bi discs are the earliest and most enduring type of jade objects The jade pendants, for example, whether they are in sets or single
made in China. In the Zhouli (Rites of Zhou) it is recorded that: pendant, their form, decoration and composition are all dynamic
and variable, and do not blindly follow previous examples. They
‘Jade is used to make six objects, in order to pay respects to the are decorated primarily with dragon and phoenix, with chilong and
heaven, earth and the four directions. The indigo bi for heaven; the joined cloud scrolls as secondary decoration, and finely executed by
yellow cong for earth; the azure gui for east; the vermillion zhang for techniques such as yousi incised decoration, pierced decoration, relief
south; the white hu for west; the black huang for north.’ This shows decoration etc.
the high status of bi amongst ritual objects.

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