Page 20 - Chinese Decorative Arts: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 55, no. 1 (Summer, 1997)

JADES AND OTHER HARD STONES

The use of jade from the Neolithic period to the pre- onto shrouds or other coverings for the corpse, can be
sent day is often cited as one of the defining character- traced back to Neolithic times and flourished around
istics of the continuity of Chinese culture. Although in 950 B.C.
of
to have declined
China a variety of semiprecious hard stones are known The prominence jade appears
collectively as jade (yu), only two are recognized as from the third to the tenth century, although it contin-
true jade: nephrite, which occurs as tremolite and actin- ued to be worn on belts, as hair ornaments, and as jew-
olite; and jadeite, a silicate of sodium and aluminum. elry. Changes in fashion and sporadic access to supplies
Nephrite is found near the Central Asian cities of of the stone, caused by internal political disruptions as
Khotan and Yarkand, and in the Neolithic period was well as by vicissitudes of the Central Asian trading
indigenous to parts of China, particularly around Lake economy during these centuries, may provide one rea-
Tai in eastern Jiangsu Province. It appears in shades of son for this decline. High-quality jade was prized by the
green, yellow, and white. Jadeite, which is bright green, foreign rulers of the Liao and Jin dynasties for personal
is native to Burma (Myanmar) and was first worked adornment, and, when available, at the native Song court
extensively during the eighteenth century, although it it was turned into vessels, writing and other scholarly
may have been known in China somewhat earlier. Both implements, and accoutrements of rank.
stones, but more particularly nephrite, are treasured for The use of jade was part of the flowering of
their hardness, texture, translucency, and variegated decorative arts in China during the late sixteenth and
colors-characteristics that have been interpreted as early seventeenth centuries, when luxury items in many
symbols of virtuous behavior, protection, magic, and materials were made for scholars and merchants living
immortality. Jade objects also served as emblems of in southern China, partially as a result of changes in
supernatural and temporal powers and of w;ealth. patronage because of the closing of imperial work-
The importation of jade over vast distances shops. Royal patronage, particularly that of the
undoubtedly contributed to its value, but the noble Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-95) led to a flourishing of
qualities of the stone itself most captured the Chinese the medium during the Qing period, when there were
imagination. Unrecognizable from other nondescript major centers at Beijing, Sushi, Yangzhou, Jiangling,
brown boulders in its natural, uncut state, jade hides its Huai'an, and Tianjin. Ornaments, sculptures, writing
potential beauty within; one of the hardest of stones, it sets, and an astonishing range of ritual and functional
takes on a soft sheen when polished; cool to the touch, vessels were made during this period. In addition, more
it warms when held in the hand. In China the slow work- luxurious objects such as jade books or chimes were
ing of jade was likened to the arduous process of perfect- also turned out, usually in the reopened imperial work-
ing the human mind; only through long and persistent shops. Agate, coral, tourmaline, serpentine, lapis lazuli,
effort could true character and virtue be developed. rock crystal, turquoise, and malachite (opposite) were

Jade ornaments and ceremonial weapons were also carved at this time, often by artisans who worked
produced by some of China's earliest Neolithic cul- in the more prevailing medium of jade. The variety of
tures. Throughout the Shang and Zhou periods and such materials used from the late eighteenth to the early
into the Han dynasty, jade was worked into ritual and twentieth century has no parallels in other cultures and
secular vessels, jewelry, decorations for clothing, fur- attests to the power and importance granted to beauti-
nishings, and vehicles, as well as small figures and ani- ful stones in the decorative arts of China. DPL
mals. The use of jade burials, including plaques sewn
in