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| Jade
Shroud after restoration |
Jade shroud in situ |
A
Panorama Of Han Dynasty's Ancient Jade
Unearthed
the Tombs Of The King Of Nanyue
in
Xianggang, Guangzhou in 1983
The 244 pieces of ancient jade unearthed from the Tombs of The King Of Nanyue, Han Dynasty (BC203-BC111), consists of 19 types, shroud, nose plug, arched dragon, disc, segment, ring, pectoral, figurine, pendant, sword fitting, garment hook, seal, chessman, beaker, covered cup, rhyton, covered box and beaker with basin stand.
In short, these ancient jades found from the tombs, can be classified into four categories:
1) Ceremonial Jade
2) Mortuary Jade
3) Decorative Jade
4) Utensils and Daily Items
With the following techniques applied:
A) Saw cutting
B) Drilling
C) Carving
D) Chiseling
E) Refashioning
F) Mounting.
Decoration:
Apart from the jade plagues from the shroud, the chessmen, the nose plug and the small besides on the pectorals, all the ancient jade found from tombs, are decorated with designs executed in incised lines, low relief, high relief or in full round, in short, the designs can be classified into geometric and zoological.
Brief Introduction (For academic study only)
Six Tablets of Rank (Liu-Jui) and Six Sacrificial Utensils (Liu Chi)
- The most important jade artefacts in early Chinese rituals and ceremony were the Six Tablets of Rank (Liu-Jui) and Six Sacrificial Utensils (Liu Chi).
- Six Tables of Rank were used as insignia of rank among the noble hierarchy for official palace ceremonial functions.
- While the Six Sacrificial Utensils were used for various sacrifices to the deities of Heaven, Earth and the Four Cardinal Directions. This category of jade is also known as Jade Ritual Objects.
Jade Tallies
Jade tallies is one of the important function of jade in early China. It was called Fu-Chieh (Tallies), these were used as a royal instrument when the emperor sent his envoy on official duties .
Jade Discs & Rings
This category of jade, classified into " Pi", "Huan", "Yuan" and "Chueh" are all variations on the form of a round, flat disc, with a hole in the centre. The only difference to identify them, is proportions of the centre holes.
Jade Personal Ornament
The shapes and dimensions of ritual objects and tallies were standardised and regulated by royal palace with official decrees. Personal Ornaments provided an unlimited outlet for the craftsmen to make it. Many of these jade artefacts were found in late Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites. These tooth-ornaments were the precursors of the jade hsi, le, yuan-le, fang-le, chi, hairpins etc.
Inset Jade Ornaments
Inset Jade Ornament (in Chinese term) hsing-chen yu-chi refers to the attachment of jade to the surfaces of other articles by various processes.
The major category types of jade is in the form of Wei, Peng, Pin, Hsiao, Huan, Ring, Pi, Pang etc.
Jade Funerary Articles
Funerary rituals developed very early in China, shall be in upper Palaeolithic age. A large group of kuei, huang, pi, tsung, hu and huang were found in a Western Chou tomb in Kansu Province.
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