Dragon Shaped Jade Wear: The Song of Jade Age

The world-famous Silk Road, formerly known as the “Jade Road” that transports Hetian jade from Xinjiang to the east and west. Archaeological findings indicate that as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasty, when the Silk Road was opened more than 1,000 years ago, Xinjiang Hetian jade was sent to the Central Plains through the jade road and became a treasure of the royal family. From the Western Zhou Dynasty, the royal family, the aristocrats, the pilgrimage, and the living quarters must all use jade, and there are various rules. Jade is an important symbol of rituals. The landmark of the Xuzhou Museum, the dragon-shaped jade sculpture unearthed from the tomb of the Chu King in the Lion Rock, is such a treasure.

Yulong is 17.5 centimeters long, 10.2 centimeters wide, and 0.6 centimeters thick. It is slightly larger than a slap, and is made of white jade from Hetian. The jade is moist and has a glass-like luster. Because it was buried in the mausoleum for more than 2,000 years, the dragon has a part of it. spot. Jade dragon style is fierce and vigorous, body curl is S-shaped, Zhang must be exposed teeth, eyes rounded, mane hair curled to both sides, forelimbs twisted, sharp claws, dragon tail rolled up and flat, decorated with a quail-like swirl pattern. Yugong uses the techniques of Yinxian carving, relief carving and partial openwork carving to express the profound meaning of the abyss and the ambiguous time. There is a drill hole under the eye of Yulong to wear the thread when wearing it, indicating that it is an accessory.

In the history of Chinese jade, the Warring States Period to the Western Han Dynasty was a peak of craftsmanship. The cultural prosperity of a hundred schools of thought, and the use of ironware and forklifts have brought about the craftsmanship of jade craftsmanship, which has transformed the ancient jade artifacts for thousands of years and has become meticulous. In this regard, experts summed up the “five characters”.诀 :: Li, the edge cut straight down, sharp can cut his hand; bright, polished jade bright and clean; fierce, fierce animal image; fine, pattern twists and turns, hair is also fine, known as the "hairspring hair carving "Empty, a lot of openwork hollowing out, even more smart. The S-shaped jade dragon appeared during the Warring States period, but basically it was a horizontal S-shape. The vertical S-shape was only found in the tombs of the early kings of the Western Han Dynasty. The vertical s-shaped jade dragon of the Lion Rock in Xuzhou was so beautiful and so huge that it could be called in China. Leading. During the Warring States period, the dominion of the heroes created a strong, martial, enterprising social atmosphere, directly affecting the aesthetic orientation of the jade ware. This jade dragon unearthed in the early Han dynasty of the King of Chu had obvious legacy of the Warring States period. By the middle Han dynasty, the imperial power strengthened. As the four seas rise, the jade style has become gentle and gentle - it can be said that this jade dragon is a swan song in the mighty era of Chinese jade.

Although it was stolen in ancient times, more than 2,000 pieces of cultural relics were still unearthed in the tombs of the Chu Kings of the Lion Mountain. Among them, jade articles are the biggest highlights. There are gold and jade clothes, jade and wood lacquer wares, jade gongs, jade gems, jade gongs and jade gongs. There are more than 200 pieces (sets) of jade, jade pillows and jade pillows. The varieties are rich, the quality of jade is excellent, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. It is unsurpassed in the national archaeological discovery.

With so many valuable jades, why don't the thieves steal it? It turned out that in the Han Dynasty, Liyu was a symbol of status and status. Most people could not wear it. Tombstone thief took away the jade not only failed to sell, but also exposed their own crimes, so only take gold and silver devices that can be cast.

In China, jade was beyond the aesthetic category from the very beginning. As early as in the Hongshan culture and Liangzhu culture of the Neolithic Age, jade was considered to be able to communicate with the world, gods, and ancestors. People used the most pious attitude and primitive tools to spend a lot of time producing jade. In Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, the original tribal leader became the king of the ruling country. Social institutions and personal life were incorporated into the strict and standard etiquette system. Jade articles also changed from Shenyu to Liyu and permeated all corners of social life. Only when there is a sacrificial offering is there a saying of “six utensils”: to the heavens in the heavens, and to the rituals in the yellow, to the east in the Qinggui ceremony, and to the south in the red and the white in the west, and to the north in Xuanzang. This has its background. When the kingdom aggregated more and more ethnic groups and even the original enemies, how to ensure cultural identity and the dignity of royal rights became the primary issue. It was believed that the jade that absorbed the aura of heaven and earth became the carrier of the ritual law system. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius Confucianism conferred the virtue of a jade gentleman: the jade is warm and radiant, this is its virtue; its clear and fine texture, which is its wisdom; it is hard and not shrinking, this is its morality; Without hurting people, this is its character; its color is bright and unblemished, it is pure; it is hurt, not bent, it is brave... The gentleman is better than Deyu Yu and becomes the core of the jade culture in the future.

At that time, the social trend was "no reason for the gentleman, jade does not leave the body." Jade articles should be worn in groups, rhythmically buzzing when walking, pace and speed should be in harmony with Peiyu, to express gentlemen's manner, temperament and demeanor. As the tomb of the Chu King of Lion Hill was once disturbed by thieves, this S-shaped Jade Dragon and which Jade Dragons were paired became a mystery of the ages. However, it is not easy to wear such a huge and heavy jade piece, so experts speculated that King Chu only uses Yulong when attending a very important ceremony.

So, where does Jade Dragon come from? Is it the reward of the court or the local production of Chu? Experts tend to the latter. In the Warring States Period, the jades of the Chu Kingdom were unparalleled, and many jade objects were difficult to imitate even in modern times. The Chu State in the early Western Han Dynasty was geographically overlapped with the State of Chu in the Warring States period. The tradition of making jade was still in existence. The Xuzhou Han tomb has almost every jade, and there are many varieties of Wu Han jade. It is difficult to match in the field. In Xuzhou Baiyun Shanxi Han Tombs, a batch of jade materials, scraps and broken jade pieces were also discovered. There are jade workshops. A series of tomb-making tools were found in the Tomb of Lion Rock in Han Dynasty. The pointed part of some tools were fry steel products. This is the earliest fry steel in China, 1800 years earlier than Europe. Such a tool will undoubtedly improve jade processing. s level.

Regarding the master of the tomb of the Chu Dynasty, there are two views: the second generation of Chu Liu and the third generation of King Chu Liu. The latter is exactly the King of Chu who initiated the Wu and Chu seven states with Liu. As it has happened countless times in history, the Chu State, once rich and powerful, and the once-famous Chu State, and the majesty of the king, the majesty of the king, and the ambition of the king, have long since vanished under the wheels of time, leaving only the essence of Yulong. Cultural relics transform the vicissitudes of life for more than 2,000 years into an eternal history as a reflection of history for people to think and remember.