Jade Culture
Explore the history, artistry and wisdom of jade.
Sun moon essence, heaven earth breeds spirit.
Jade is believed to be imbued with the essence of the sun and moon, and the vital spirit nurtured by heaven and earth.
Human treasure, China contributes.
A treasure for all humanity, contributed by Chinese civilization.
Worth many cities, priceless treasure.
These stories illustrate jade's immense, sometimes incalculable, value.
Jade virtue's purity, quality pure uphold right.
The virtue of Purity: jade is pure in quality, symbolizing upholding correctness and integrity.
Carve objects into classics, continue pass on.
The art of carving jade into objects creates cultural classics, a tradition that continues and is celebrated.
Jade though speechless, soul within.
Although jade does not speak, it contains a soul or spirit within.
Openwork carving exquisite, light shadow plays.
Openwork or pierced carving is exquisite, allowing light and shadow to play through it.
Idiom contains meaning, jade meaning clear.
Many Chinese idioms contain the character for jade, clearly demonstrating its cultural significance.
Broad profound, source distant flow long.
This history and culture are extensive, profound, and have a long, continuous development.
Guanzi Xunzi, Confucius Xu Shen.
Philosophers and scholars like Guanzi, Xunzi, Confucius, and the lexicographer Xu Shen all wrote about jade's virtues.
Follow material apply art, turn flaw into beauty.
The artist designs according to the natural shape and features of the raw stone, often ingeniously incorporating flaws into the design.
Gold branch jade leaf, gold mouth jade words.
Idioms: "Gold branch, jade leaf" refers to nobility. "Gold mouth, jade words" refers to honorable, trustworthy speech.
Jade nurtures civilization, shines upon all nations.
Jade nurtured civilization, and its light shines upon all nations.
Born beautiful, jade charm long.
Jade possesses an innate beauty, and the elegant charm it embodies is enduring.
Eastern Zhou Western Zhou, double line squeeze ridge.
A common Zhou dynasty carving technique where two parallel incised lines create a raised ridge between them.
Cultivate self nurture nature, regulate family govern state.
This is the Confucian path: cultivate oneself, nurture one's nature, regulate the family, and govern the state.
Jade pendant jade ornament, pearls unite jade joins.
Wearing fine jade pendants; "Pearls united with jade" means a perfect match or ideal combination.
Ritual obey clan law, form system solemn.
They adhered to ritual codes and clan laws, with solemn and formalized shapes.
Fat soft smooth luster, warm gentle soft light.
It has a soft, smooth, oily luster that emits a warm and gentle glow.
Nectar jade liquid, pearl round jade smooth.
"Nectar and jade wine" means exquisite drink. "Pearls are round, jade is smooth" means perfection and refinement.
Soul may have no restraint, cannot have no jade.
One's soul may be free and unburdened, but one must not be without jade.
Hetian seed jade, moistens ten-thousand years.
Hetian "seed" jade, polished and tempered in rivers for millennia, is especially valued.
Jade stone connects spirit, thousand years revered.
Jade stone connects to the spiritual, and has been revered for thousands of years.
Savor elegance, scene comfortable.
Song jades were for refined appreciation, evoking a comfortable and elegant artistic conception.
Stone transforms jade, perfect metamorphosis.
This process results in the perfect metamorphosis of stone into jade.
Confucian ritual music, use jade compare virtue.
In Confucian ritual and musical culture, jade is used as a metaphor for virtue.
Tang grace dignified, gold jade good match.
Tang dynasty jade style was graceful and dignified; "gold and jade" became a metaphor for a perfect marriage.
Use jade power token, jade virtue displays.
Jade was used as a token of power and authority, while also displaying its symbolic virtues.
Jade scattered, still sing chant.
Although scattered, the art and tradition of jade were not lost, and continued in a diminished form.
Jade heart jade stands, jade maiden jade face.
Heart of jade, standing tall like jade; a jade maiden with a jade-like appearance.
Three Sovereigns Five Emperors, use jade as weapon.
Legendary sage-rulers used jade to make ritual "weapons" or tools, symbolizing authority.
Han has eight cuts, sparse sharp.
The "Eight-Cut" style of Han dynasty, especially in burial jades, was characterized by sparse, sharp, and powerful strokes.
Jade virtue's righteousness, inside outside both cultivate.
The virtue of Righteousness: it is cultivated both in internal character and external conduct, just as jade's beauty is inside and out.
Sun moon essence, heaven earth breeds spirit.
Jade is believed to be imbued with the essence of the sun and moon, and the vital spirit nurtured by heaven and earth.
