Nanyang Jade Artifacts

Nanyang Jade Artifacts

Nanyang jade artifacts are a protected geographical indication product.

　　 When speaking of Nanyang’s jade carving, one must first mention the city’s treasured “jewel of the town”—Dushan Jade, one of China’s four famous types of jade. Named after Dushan Mountain in Nanyang City, Henan Province, it is also called simply Duyu. The Nanyang Basin boasts abundant high-quality jade resources, with a long history of mining, carving, and trading. It is widely renowned and honored as the “Hometown of Jade Carving in China,” holding an extremely important place in the history of Chinese jade culture.

　　 In the Wudang District of Nanyang City lies a mountain called “Dushan,” one of the scenic highlights of Wudang. Dushan is rich in precious stones and is famed for its beautiful jade, also known as Wulong Duyu. Duyu is one of China’s four famous jades. It features bright colors, high hardness, and a fine luster, earning it the reputation of “Nanyang Jadeite” among collectors both in China and abroad.

　　　　The Eastern Han Dynasty scientist Zhang Heng described Duyu in his “Ode to the Southern Capital” as: “Its treasures and wonders, golden hues and jade rough, like pearls that glow at night...” In Beijing’s Beihai Park, within the Circular Wall, there is a massive jade sculpture known as the “Dushan (Duyu) Grand Jade Sea.” It was used by Kublai Khan, the Yuan Emperor, to serve wine to his troops and is the largest and earliest giant jade carving in Chinese history, made from Duyu. There is also a theory that the He Shi Bi jade, involved in the story “Returning the Intact Jade to Zhao,” belonged to the Duyu category. Historical records describe the He Shi Bi as white jade, and Duyu has a variety called “translucent white,” which is extremely rare. Moreover, the ancient Chu Kingdom’s capital was located in present-day Xichuan County, Nanyang, and Bian He, the man who owned the He Shi Bi, was a Chu citizen. Of course, the theory that the He Shi Bi was Duyu remains speculative due to the lack of physical evidence.

　　　　Most of the raw materials used in Nanyang jade carving are Duyu. In ancient times, it was used only as tribute or enjoyed exclusively by nobility. Today, it has evolved into decorative items and household utensils, entering ordinary households. Jade carving has become a major industry in Nanyang. In areas like Dushan in Wudang District and Shifosi in Zhenping, it is common to hear the sound of carving in every village and see workshops on every street, with the sound of jade being shaped never ceasing.

　　　　The varieties of jade carvings are quite rich and can be divided into several main categories: figures, flowers and birds/wild animals, landscapes, incense burners and vases, and small hanging (play) ornaments. Figure carvings often draw inspiration from mythology, classical opera stories, and modern artistic images. Floral, bird, and animal designs include motifs such as “a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix,” “magpies chirping among plum blossoms,” as well as lions, elephants, tigers, oxen, horses, and monkeys. Landscape carvings typically depict scenes from classical poetry, such as peaks, valleys, waterfalls, forests, small bridges, flowing water, and rural homes. Incense burners and vases include jade bottles, jade rings, revolving censers, pavilion-style censers, and jade tripods. There is a wide variety of small hanging (play) ornaments—hundreds of types—often symbolizing good fortune, peace, and safety. Carving techniques are divided into two categories: intricate openwork (“flower work”) and plain carving (“plain work”). Flower work includes incense burners, revolving censers, birds, animals, and female figures. Plain work includes items like rings, bracelets, and earrings. Modern artisans, while inheriting traditional carving techniques, have incorporated the freehand style of Chinese painting, gradually forming the distinctive characteristics of “flower work showcasing ingenuity through technique, and plain work highlighting elegance through color.”