Jade has a long history and deep culture in China and is an integral part of Chinese culture. Along with the development of China for thousands of years, jade has been highly integrated with Chinese culture, and has even become more and more closely involved in people’s daily life. Jade has had a great influence in China, but not many people in the West have noticed jade, because jade is not particularly popular compared to gold, precious stones, jewelry, and diamonds. I think one of the reasons for this is that most people don’t understand the history and culture of jade. So much so that they don’t want to know about jade. Therefore, this exhibition aims to let people know more about the culture and history of jade. Jade has a noble status in Chinese culture.

In ancient times, the Chinese considered jade to be the most precious and beautiful natural material. As early as the Neolithic period (3500-2000 BC), people began to carve jade and use it to make rituals and ceremonial objects.

In ancient times, jade was considered the essence of heaven and earth and the purest substance in nature. As such, jade became a symbol of royalty and nobility, as well as an important vehicle for ceremonial, religious and political purposes. That is why jade has been the most popular decorative material for centuries. Undoubtedly, due to its high value, it was also associated with the aristocracy, with gentlemen decorating their houses, and especially their desks, with beautiful and functional jade carvings. One of the pieces in my exhibition, ‘Burial Ensemble of Dou Wan’, is a burial suit. The suit is made up of small pieces of jade, each carefully carved and then joined together by gold threads. In ancient times, it was believed that jade could keep the bones of a corpse immortal, so the corpse was transformed under the jade wrapping in order to gain immortality. The owner of this burial suit had a superb status.

The appearance of jade is also a favorite, as is its texture and beauty. Jade has a warm, soft luster that gives it a sense of serenity and tranquility. At the same time, the color of jade is rich and varied, with various colors such as green, yellow, white and black, etc. These beautiful colors make jade a beautiful symbol in people’s minds. In addition, the texture of jade is also distinctive, with abstract forms that give people endless room for reverie. In addition, jade is also used to make all kinds of rituals, ornaments and handicrafts, such as jade pendants, jade bracelets, jade hairpins and so on. These jade objects not only have high artistic value, but also carry rich cultural connotations.

In addition to its appearance, jade is also a favorite because it is endowed with many beautiful symbols, such as nobility, purity, warmth, harmony, etc. These qualities are revered by the Chinese. All these qualities are revered by the Chinese. Therefore, people regard jade as an object that symbolizes good qualities. Wearing jade not only demonstrates one’s personal taste and cultivation, but also serves as a reminder of one’s pursuit of good qualities. So many people use jade to convey their blessings. For example, one of the works in my exhibition, ‘Ru’yi’, is a tool made of jade known as Ruyi, which is usually used as an itch-scratching tool. But by the Qing Dynasty Ruyi had become a symbol of good luck and was often given as a gift to friends. Ruyi has many meanings and symbols such as happiness and good fortune, wearing a Ruyi is also a symbol of status and honor, and then the name Ruyi itself means to do things as you wish.

Another example is ‘Boy with water buffalo’, on this jade sculpture there are several elements, namely the boy, the buffalo, and the ears of rice. Buffalos, since ancient times, have been a good helper in agricultural farming. Their gentle character and the boy together indicate that they are companions, and they have always played an irreplaceable role in the cultivation of rice paddies in the south. Then the ears of rice represent a good harvest, so this sculpture symbolizes the hope that every year there will be more and more grain.

Through this exhibition, we can not only appreciate the artistic beauty of jade, but also gain a deeper understanding of the cultural connotations that jade represents. Whether it is the symbolism of jade in burial clothes, or the good wishes conveyed by crafts such as Ruyi and jade carvings, jade has always occupied an irreplaceable position in Chinese culture. In short, as a treasure of Chinese culture, jade is not only a beautiful object, but also an inheritance and symbol, carrying the wisdom and spirit of thousands of years of civilization. The purpose of this exhibition is precisely to enable more people to understand and appreciate the culture of jade, and to feel its profound historical deposits as well as its endless cultural charm.

Work cited

“Burial Ensemble of Dou Wan”https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/696308

“Archer’s Ring ”https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30234

“Boy with water buffalo”https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/41918

“Jade in Ancient China”by Mark Cartwright published on 29 June 2017 https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1088/jade-in-ancient-china/