Longsheng Red Jade

Longsheng Red Jade was formerly known as Guilin Chicken Blood Stone, Guilin Red Jasper, Guilin Chicken Blood Red Jasper, Longsheng Chicken Blood Stone, and Longsheng Red Jasper. It is produced in the Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County under the jurisdiction of Guilin City.

　　2. Formation

　　Geological experts have confirmed that the comprehensive mineral composition of Longsheng Red Jade is primarily red jasper quartz, along with some high-valence and low-valence iron. It is a silicon-iron-rich metamorphic volcanic rock—jasperite. Guilin Chicken Blood Jade is a product of deep-sea volcanic sedimentary metamorphism from ancient plate suture zones, formed approximately 1 billion years ago. Through years of development, appreciation, and collection practices, Guilin Chicken Blood Jade has proven to be a promising and valuable new type of jade.

　　3. Chemical Composition

　　Its chemical composition mainly consists of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), along with a collection of various metal minerals such as iron oxide, manganese, zinc, and aluminum. The red parts mainly contain iron and do not include mercury sulfide (HgS).

　　4. Difference Between Red Jade and Red Stone

　　The most significant difference between red jade and red stone lies in the “blood” part. The “blood” in red stone is cinnabar, i.e., mercury sulfide, which is a mercury compound; whereas the “blood” in chicken blood jade is iron-containing silicon oxide. The former is harmful to the human body, while the latter is not.

　　In the narrow sense, “jade” refers to Hetian jade, whose main component is aluminum oxide. Hard jade or jadeite is primarily composed of sodium aluminum silicate (NaAl₉(Si₂O₆)), giving it a somewhat translucent appearance. Guilin Chicken Blood Jade is not as translucent as Hetian jade or jadeite. Its main component is silicon dioxide, predominantly in black and red, along with other colors such as yellow, purple, white, and green.

　　Features

　　First, the most prominent feature of Longsheng Red Jade is its emphasis on the color “red.” It is a type of jasperite dominated by a chicken-blood red hue, hence called “chicken-blood red jasperite.” The colors include chicken-blood red, purplish-red, light red, brownish-red, date-red, and brownish-red, along with various base colors such as full red with golden yellow, pure black, or white as contrast. The color combinations are excellent, often featuring auspicious patterns or abstract images. The colorful patterns are rich and vibrant, making the jade even more striking and dazzling.

　　Second, Longsheng Red Jade has excellent texture.

　　According to appraisals by the China Gemstone Testing Center, the Mohs hardness of Guilin Chicken Blood Jade ranges from 6.5 to 7. Due to the high hardness and toughness of silicate minerals, its properties are stable, resistant to weathering, abrasion, and unaffected by acid or alkali erosion. It does not fade under sun or wind exposure. Experts believe these qualities are superior to those of “chicken blood stone.”

　　Third, Longsheng Red Jade has a smooth and delicate texture.

　　Experts have determined that Guilin Chicken Blood Jade primarily has a cryptocrystalline and microcrystalline structure, with a relative density of 2.7–2.95 g/cm³. As a result, the jade is fine, smooth, and delicate, with good polishing performance. After polishing, it exhibits a glassy luster and has excellent carving and processing characteristics, meeting the standards of a perfect new type of jade.

　　Fourth, Longsheng Red Jade contains beneficial iron that promotes blood health.

　　5. Advantages

　　Experts, when determining and analyzing the coloring elements and their causes, pointed out that the red color of “chicken blood jade” is not formed by cinnabar (vermilion—mercury sulfide HgS), but rather by particularly stable iron ions that are also highly beneficial to human health. The blood-red color of human and all vertebrate blood is due to the presence of these iron ions. The fact that Guilin Chicken Blood Jade does not contain mercury or sulfur but instead contains iron is not a disadvantage—in fact, it is its greatest strength. It is also a major highlight of scientific reliability, environmental respect, and health preservation.

　　6. Artistic and Craft Value

　　Opinions on Longsheng Red Jade vary widely—some people appreciate it while others hold different views. I am firmly optimistic about its potential and see market opportunities. Based on three years of exploration, my understanding of it can be summarized in three words:

　　First, great color. Its color palette is rich. The stones are primarily dominated by red, yellow, white, and black, but red and black are especially prominent. The “red”—very vivid. The best red resembles a rooster’s comb. That’s why this jade is aptly named “chicken blood jade,” which further highlights the value of its red hue. The black is as shiny as lacquer, with good texture, smooth and delicate, and a clean base color.

　　Second, unique patterns. Patterns are a form of linear art, typical of Eastern artistic styles. There are three types of patterns:

　　〈1〉Pictographic patterns: These pattern shapes form certain natural designs, such as...

　　Appreciation of Fine Longsheng Red Jade Seal Materials

　　Appreciation of Fine Longsheng Red Jade Seal Materials (3 photos)

　　Collected pieces like “Twin Lions” and “Fierce Tiger” are very unique. Some resemble trees, some people, landscapes, animals, or even text, creating an extra charm beyond the stone itself. Occasional discoveries are common: during carving, I’ve found that each cut yields different results—a technique known as clever carving. So it’s very intentional; the joy of stone collecting lies in discovery.

　　〈2〉Abstract patterns: Beautiful patterns must be orderly and formed, creating certain designs, whether figurative or abstract, “the beauty lies between likeness and unlikeness,” forming a distinctive charm—for example, some screens resemble abstract oil paintings.

　　The collected pieces "Double Lions" and "Fierce Tiger" are very unique. Some resemble trees, some people, some landscapes, some animals, and some even look like characters, creating an intriguing charm beyond the stones themselves. There's a strong element of spontaneity: I’ve found in carving that no two strokes are the same—this is what’s called skillful carving. So it requires a lot of awareness, and the joy of playing with stones lies in discovery.

　　<2> Abstract textures: Beautiful textures must be well-ordered and well-formed, creating certain patterns—either figurative or abstract, "the beauty lies in the resemblance and the non-resemblance," forming a distinctive charm. For example, some screens resemble an abstract oil painting.

　　〈3〉In art, lines are composed of countless dots, and a dot is a special kind of line. The spotted textures in chicken-blood jade can resemble peach blossoms, cinnabar, black-gold sand bases, or blue sand bases, with some red dots evenly distributed, creating a very beautiful effect. In colorless, transparent frozen stones, these dots are scattered like stars, exuding an elegant and unique beauty. The black-gold sand base seems to float atop the stone, evoking a mysterious illusion from the cosmos.

　　Third, "Excellence." As the saying goes, "When color is skillfully matched, the artwork becomes a treasure."

　　Previously, I studied and carved various materials such as Shoushan stone, jadeite, crystal, and ivory, eventually concluding that the path of skillful carving is the way to go.

　　This type of stone is excellent for skillful carving and is a fine variety of jade. In the future, many master carvers will use this jade to create numerous outstanding works.

　　"Owning resources means owning wealth"—this is a gift bestowed upon Longsheng County by nature. With such exceptional resources, Longsheng County also has a great opportunity. Our philosophy with Shoushan stone is: rare resources conquer the world. Because stones are extracted bit by bit, every inch is as precious as gold. The requirements for material selection are very high, and the carving craftsmanship is extremely meticulous.

　　Product diversification, diverse choices, and a broad consumer base lead to a wide market, a solid foundation, and healthy, steady market development.

　　There’s a song: "The exquisite stone can sing, as long as you understand its preciousness, you can obtain it even if the mountain is high and the road is far"... The song encompasses many meanings.

　　7. Aesthetic Standards

　　Longsheng Red Jade is a product of deep-sea volcanic eruptions along the ancient geological plate suture zone, formed approximately 1 billion years ago. It is a jadeite rock primarily characterized by a chicken-blood red hue, hence the name "chicken-blood jade."

　　Represented by Changhua chicken-blood stone, chicken-blood stones, known for their vivid red hues and translucent textures, have become world-renowned ornamental stones and seal materials. Compared to chicken-blood stones, Guilin chicken-blood jade shares similarities in aesthetic elements and gemological characteristics but also possesses its own unique features.

　　Longsheng Red Jade comes in colors such as chicken-blood red, purplish-red, light red, brownish-red, jujube red, and brownish-red. Beyond the main colors, there are various base colors, such as full red with golden yellow, pure black, or white. The combination of main colors and base colors is excellent, with rich and vibrant color patterns that are visually striking, fully comparable to Changhua chicken-blood stone and Balin chicken-blood stone in terms of color aesthetics.

　　Although the colors are similar to those of chicken-blood stones, the coloring mechanism of Guilin chicken-blood jade is entirely different. Its red color is not derived from cinnabar but from particularly stable iron ions. Iron is the most important element in nature that produces vivid red hues, and the blood of humans and all vertebrates appears blood-red due to the presence of these iron ions.

　　Beyond color, Longsheng Red Jade also differs significantly from chicken-blood stones in hardness. According to the China Gemstone Testing Center, Guilin chicken-blood jade has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, while Changhua chicken-blood stone and Balin chicken-blood stone have a hardness of 2.8, which is lower than the 3 Mohs hardness of human fingernails. This is why the maintenance of Changhua and Balin chicken-blood stones is a specialized subject. Guilin chicken-blood jade is hard and tough, making it stable in nature, resistant to weathering, wear, and acid-base corrosion. It does not fade under sun or wind exposure and does not require oiling for maintenance, making it more convenient for collection and handling.

　　8. Cultural Significance

　　The most distinctive feature of Longsheng Red Jade lies in the character "red." From ancient times to the present, red has symbolized joy, good fortune, and prosperity in Chinese culture. As a benchmark color in Chinese culture, it is more readily accepted by the Chinese people.

　　Historically, although China is a nation that reveres the color red, its enduring jade culture has lacked a red-hued jade as the central focus—a regret in Chinese jade culture. The emergence of Longsheng Red Jade offers a possibility for red-themed culture.

　　Additionally, Longsheng Red Jade often contains pure black, described as "black as lacquer," shining as brightly as ox horn. As a contrasting base, it makes the red appear more solemn. Moreover, Longsheng Red Jade also includes yellow as a mixed color. The combination of red and yellow creates a vibrant and lively tone, which is also quite distinctive.

　　Longsheng Red Jade has a fine, moist, and delicate texture, with excellent processing properties. After polishing, it exhibits a glassy luster and can be carved into pendants, Buddha statues, jewelry, ornaments, seal knobs, high-end tea and wine utensils, and more—truly versatile. How to leverage the characteristics of its colors and the charm of its culture is a key consideration for artisans.

　　9. Grading

　　1. Unique Piece Longsheng Red Jade

　　Categorized as the highest-end unique pieces of Guilin chicken-blood jade, primarily full red, or full red with golden yellow or pure black. These pieces require a lustrous and luxurious jade texture, strikingly vivid colors, excellent color combinations, and ideally feature auspicious patterns or images, such as dragon motifs, human figures, birds and beasts, landscapes, waves, or scenic patterns, whether concrete or abstract.

　　2. Premium Longsheng Red Jade

　　Categorized as high-end premium red jade, primarily full red, or full red with golden yellow or pure black. These pieces require a fine, lustrous, and moist jade texture, vivid colors, good color combinations, and may include slight auspicious patterns or abstract images, such as cloud, water wave, tree, or floral motifs.

　　In addition to the three main colors—red, yellow, and black—those with jujube red or brownish-red hues are also considered premium red jade.

　　3. Rare Longsheng Red Jade

　　Features semi-red or banded red as the main color, or includes banded golden yellow, dark yellow, black, or brownish hues. Various rare chicken-blood jades fall into this category. They require a fine, sand-free jade texture, pure colors, reasonable color combinations, and orderly patterns.

　　4. Fine Longsheng Red Jade

　　Features irregular spotted red or more dispersed banded red, or includes irregular dark yellow, black, brownish, or dark brownish-red spots, as well as intermittent red stripes. These jades require a fine texture without sand holes or cracks, moderate color combinations, and non-disruptive patterns.

　　5. Variegated Longsheng Red Jade

　　Displays only irregular scattered or broken-line red to dark red hues, as well as undefined color variations.

　　6. Mixed-color Red Jasper

　　A type of variegated Chicken Blood Jade that shows almost no red tones

　　10. Collectible Value

　　Given the current market situation, the most popular varieties of Longsheng Red Jade are raw stones and seals. Three years ago, a top-quality Longsheng Red Jade seal cost only three or four hundred yuan, but now it can go for three or four thousand. As for bracelets, bangles, ornaments, and pendants, prices now generally start at over a thousand yuan as well. In comparison, the price increase for Longsheng Red Jade raw stones has been even more staggering, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, or even tens of millions of yuan—each high-quality piece becoming a hot commodity among collectors. Overall, the price of Longsheng Red Jade has risen roughly five to ten times over the past three years.