Language: Chinese and English bilingual
ISBN/ISSN: 7030160096
Published on: 2005-01
Hardcover
The northeast area of China, geographically vast and culturally complex, is one of the most pivotal areas for the origin and development of jade-working in China. Based on current archaeological data, some 200 excavated prehistoric sites are known. Field archaeology in the western part of Liaoning and southeastern part of Inner Mongolia provide abundant data for solidifying the chronology and relationship between sites of Neolithic through early Bronze Age date.
The northeast served as the springboard for the evolution of grassland and forest cultures using jade during the historic periods. Based on archaeological data, the bulk of jades representing a peak in artistic achievement belong to two dynasties, the Liao and Jin. Jades dating to Yuan, Ming and Qing Periods are small in number and undergo a marked marginalization.
1. Area of Inner Mongolia
Jades from the area of Inner Mongolia are concentrated in the southeast. Jades of Neolithic date chronologically fall into three phases, the first of which is identified with the type-sites, Xinglongwa and Zhaobaogou Cultures, dating to ca.6000-4500BEC. The over 60 jades discovered include slit rings, tubes, ladle shapes, curved flat shapes, fu(utilitarian axe), adzes, chisel and cicadas.
The second phase of Neolithic jade-working in the northeast in represented by the Hongshan Culture and dates to 4500-3000 BCE .Early and Middle Period Hongshan jades are small in number by comparison to the numerous types of the Late Period.
The third phase, the Late Period of the Hongshan Culture, dating ca.3000-2500BEC is represented by jades from Xiaoheyan and the Xiajiadiaciaceng Cultures. Olny a few jades survive from the Xiaoheyan Culture.
Jades from the southeastern part of Inner Mongolia dating to the Liao Dynasty are concentrated n distribution. A small number of Early Period Liao jades have been unearthed from the Yelu Yuzhi tomb.
2. Area of Liaoning Prehistoric cultures of western, middle and eastern Liaoning are culturally distinctive. Western Liaoning and southeastern Inner Mongolian cultures are homogenous, and represent the upper valley area of the Liao River.
Late Period Hongshan jades, totaling approximately 100, are concentrated in western Liaoning. The most significant sites include Dongshanzui in Kazuo County; Hutougou in Fuxin County, and Niuheliang in the intersecting Jianping and Lingyuan Counties.
Neolithic jades from eastern and central Liaoning are divisible into three stages of development. The first is represented by jades of the Lower Layer of Xinle Culture and Lower Layer of Xiaozhushan Culture, dating to 5500-4000 BCE. The second stage is represented by the type-sites, Middle Layer of Xiaozhushan Culture and Period 1 of Santang Culture. The third stage is represented by jades from stone pile bombs at Sipingshan, dating to 2500-2000 BEC.
Historic period jades in type include small cups and sword pommel fittings, as represented at the tomb belonging to Feng Sufu the Northern Yan of the Sixteen Kingdoms Period in Xiguanyingzi. Form and style differ from that of the Central Plain yet jades reflect the transitional character of Sui to Tang Periods. A rather large number of jades have been discovered in Liaoning of Liao Dynastic date.
3. Area of Jilin
The most important areas of prehistoric jade finds in Jilin province include the Zhaoer and Huoling River valley in the west, the Di’ersonghuan River valley in the central part , and Mudan, Tumen and Yalu River valleys in the eastern part. Some 20 sites have been excavated and some 50 jades discovered.
4. Area of Heilonjiang
Prehistoric jades from Heilongjiang are primarily distributed in the northern part in a wide open area outside Daxing’anling and Xiaoxing’anling. Some 180 jades have been found at close to 30 sites. Numerous jades have been unearthed from Jin Dynasty sites and belong to the heyday of Jurchen tribe and culture.
In summary, jades development in the northeast, created out of a series of interrelated areas over an extensive ear, during the Neolithic and historic periods achieved glorious results. Archaeological discoveries continue to increase on a daily basis and promise to provide further scientific data to understand and assess what is a profound and productive jade center in early and historic China.
Contents
Jades Unearthed From the areas of Inner Mongolia,Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang
Chronology
1. Pair of Slit Ring(jue)
2. Pair of Slit Ring(jue)
3. Set of Slit Rings(jue)
4. Slit Ring(jue)
5. Slit Ring(jue)
6. Pair of Slit Ring(jue)
7. Skull Pierced with a Slit Ring(jue)
8. Object in the Shape of a Dagger
9. Object in the Shape of a Dagger
10. Object in the Shape of a Dagger
11. Object in the Shape of a Dagger
12. Pendant
13. Two Tubes
14. Axe
15. Ornament in the Shape of a Human Face
16. Axe
17. Dragon
18. Dragon
19. Coiled Dragon
20. Coiled Dragon
21. Coiled Dragon
22. Coiled Dragon
23. Coiled Dragon
24. Coiled Dragon
25. Coiled Dragon
26. Owl
27. Owl
28. Owl
29. Silkworm
30. Ornament in the Shape of a Human Face
31. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
32. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
33. Tube-shaped Object
34. Tube-shaped Object
35. Tube-shaped Object
36. Tube-shaped Object
37. Tube-shaped Object
38. Tube-shaped Object
39. Square Object
40. Object Composed of Three Connected Discs
41. Axe(yue)
42. Axe
43. Axe
44. Axe
45. Axe
46. Axe
47. Axe
48. Adze
49. Hook-shaped Object
50. Hook-shaped Object
51. Four Beads
52. Disc(bi)
53. Axe
54. Adze
55. Collared Disc(bi)
56. Disc(bi)
57. Disc(bi)
58. Bracelet
59. Bracelet
60. Bracelet
61. Slit Ring(jue)
62. Slit Ring(jue)
63. Slit Ring(jue)
64. Slit Ring(jue)
65. Disc(bi)
66. Disc(bi)
67. Ring
68. Ring
69. Bracelet
70. Arc-shaped Pendant
71. Arc-shaped Pendant
72. Arc-shaped Pendant
73. Ornament
74. Hairpin
75. Hairpin
76. Pendant in the Shape of a Turtle
77. Pendant in the Shape of a Cicada
78. Curved Plaque
79. Hook-shaped Object
80. Tube-shaped Object
81. Axe
82. Belt Chape
83. Belt Plaque
84. Belt Plaque
85. Belt Plaque
86. Belt Plaque
87. Belt Plaque
88. Belt Plaque
89. Belt Plaque
90. Belt Plaque
91. Finial(guduo)
92. Set of Pendants
93. Set of Pendants
94. Set of Pendants
95. Pendant Composed of Two Fish
96. Pendant Composed of Two Fish
97. Pendant Composed of Fish-shaped Box and String of Beads
98. Pendant in the Shape of a Conch
99. Pendant in the Shape of Two Swans
100. Jade-Inlaid Silver Horse Fittings
101. Jade-Inlaid Silver Horse Fittings
102. Pendant in the Shape of Two Mandarin Ducks
103. Ink Slab
104. Brush Washer
105. Bear
106. Pendant in the Shape of a Bamboo Stem
107. Tube
108. Ring
109. Human Figure
110. Female Deity Head with Jade Eyes
111. Coiled Dragon
112. Phoenix
113. Owl
114. Owl
115. Owl
116. Owl
117. Bird
118. Turtle
119. Turtle
120. Turtle
121. Turtle
122. Turtle
123. Pair of Fish
124. Object in the Shape of an Animal Mask
125. Arc-shaped Pendant (huang) with Two Dragon Heads
126. Object Composed of Three Connected Rings
127. Object Composed of Three Connected Rings
128. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
129. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
130. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
131. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
132. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
133. Object in the Shape of Hooked Cloud
134. Tube-shaped Object
135. Tube-shaped Object
136. Tube-shaped Object
137. Tube-shaped Object
138. Disc (bi)
139. Disc (bi)
140. Disc (bi)
141. Disc (bi)
142. Disc (bi)
143. Disc (bi)
144. Square Object
145. Square Object
146. Two Object Composed of Two Connected Discs
147. Object Composed of Three Connected Discs
148. Bracelet
149. Bracelet
150. Bracelet
151. Bracelet
152. Bracelet
153. Bracelet
154. Curved Plaque
155. Tubular Bead
156. Tubular Bead
157. Three Stick-shaped Objects
158. Pendant in the Shape of a Turtle
159. Rectangular Plaque
160. Flying Apsaras
161. Axe
162. Axe
163. Axe
164. Axe
165. Axe
166. Adze
167. Bead
168. Bead
169. Disc(bi)
170. Disc(bi)
171. Disc(bi)
172. Oval Pendant
173. Object Composed of Two Connected Discs(bi)
174. Ring
175. Object in the Shape of a Dagger
176. Bar-shaped Object
177. Hook-shaped Pendant
178. Pendant
179. Disc (bi)
180. Disc (bi)
181. Disc (bi)
182. Cup
183. Disc (bi)
184. Disc (bi)
185. Disc (bi)
186. Disc (bi)
187. Disc (bi)
188. Disc (bi)
189. Ring
190. Ring
191. Ornament in the Shape of a Butterfly
192. Ornament Representing a Hawk Hunting a Swan
193. Ornament Representing a Hawk Hunting a Swan
194. Plate
195. Knob of an Incense-Burner with Lotus And Egret Decoration
196. Slit Ring (jue)
197. Pendant
198. Axe
199. Disc (bi)
200. Disc (bi)
201. Disc (bi)
202. Disc (bi)
203. Disc (bi)
204. Disc (bi)
205. Ornament
206. Ornament
207. Pendant
208. Pendant
209. Pendant
210. Object Composed of Two Connected Discs(bi)
211. Object Composed of Two Connected Discs(bi)
212. Adze
213. Adze
214. Disc (bi)
215. Disc (bi)
216. Disc (bi)
217. Disc (bi)
218. Cicada
219. Finial (Guduo)
220. Earring
221. Pendant in the Shape of a Plum Blossom
222. Pair of Earrings
223. Ring
224. Rabbit
225. Pendant in the Shape of a Fish
226. Pendant in the Shape of a Fish
227. Pendant in the Shape of a Fish
228. Pendant in the Shape of a Swan
229. Pendant in the Shape of a Swan
230. Pendant with Two Deers Motif
231. Pendant in the Shape of a Bird And Flowers
232. Pendant with Flying Apsaras
233. Boy
234. Cup with Two Dragon Handles
235. Belt Clasp
236. Belt Clasp
237. Belt Hook
238. Pendant in the Shape of Two Melons
239. Snuff Bottle
240. Thumb Ring
