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Chinese Jewelry & Accessories article, links, terms: China's use of jade goes back at least 8000 years. Archaeologists have found pairs of slit rings, probably used as ear jewelry, from tombs in southern Manchuria dating that far back. The use of jade greatly expanded over the next 3000 years, and extensive collections of jade objects were discovered in graves circa 3000BC in both Manchuria (Hongshan) and southern Jiansu around Lake Tai (Liangzhu), showing great sophistication of object design and carving techniques, despite the lack of metal tools. Jewelry Accessories 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry, Tibetan Jewelry, Jade Jewelry, Costume Jewelry, bags & purses, Chinese shawls & scarves, China ties & belts, Asian shoes & Oriental slippers. The Shangs and Zhous, who had bronze tools, were able to make more complex jade pieces, and much greater numbers of them, taking jade beyond its previous domain of ritual worship to other aspects of aristocratic life. The Hans, Tangs, Songs, Mings and Qings each developed their own artistic styles and carving techniques, leaving for posterity an admirable array of artifacts of both artistic and historical value. The jade used in ancient China was very different from the jewelry jade that we see commonly today, the brilliantly green jadeite mostly originating from Burma. Chinese Clothes The Chinese jades are mainly based on the mineral nephrite, more subdued in colouring and softer to the touch. Its crystaline structure, developed under heat and pressure over time, has densely interlinked cells which do not break apart easily. This solidity allows jade to be polished to a smooth and shiny surface not readily damaged by contact with even hard objects and corrosive agents, thus allowing them to survive many centuries of burial in soil for modern rediscovery. While the burial of jade objects in the tombs of tribal chiefs and shrine priests indicates their ritualistic functions, as symbols of personal status and divine duties, we are less able to guess whether other kinds of jade objects also existed in more general aspects of neolithic life. It is likely that initially jade was simply used to make tools like other rocks, but gradually its ability to be ground and polished into thin and sharp blades caused more weapons to be made from jade. Because of the importance of weapons as tokens of power, jade objects began to take on a symbolic significance. Its attractive appearance would also make it the natural choice for ceremonial purposes, gradually evolving into heavy ritualistic use. Status and rank: you are what you wear--earrings, mirrors, combs, belt sets, hairpins, pendants, and diadems exquisitely crafted from gold, silver, bronze, and jade. Chinese Dress 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry, Tibetan Jewelry, Jade Jewelry, Costume Jewelry, bags & purses, Chinese shawls & scarves, China ties & belts, Asian shoes & Oriental slippers. This is the first major exhibition to trace the evolution of Chinese personal adornment from the Shang period (ca. 1500-1050 B.C.) to the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). During the early phases of China's history, jewelry and related objects served as status symbols. In later periods, they were marks of beauty and wealth. Many of these objects have since been unearthed from Chinese tombs, where they were intended to accompany the dead in the afterlife as adornments for eternity. |
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