Lantian Jade Artifacts

Lantian Jade Artifacts

　　Lantian jade artifacts are objects carved from Lantian jade, a specialty of Lantian, known as the "hometown of jade carving." These items fall into several categories, including handicrafts, jewelry, and practical objects.

　　The name "Lantian jade" first appeared in the *Book of Han · Treatise on Geography*, which records that the fine jade was produced in "Lantian Mountain, north of the capital (present-day northern Xi'an)." Later, ancient texts such as the *Book of the Later Han · Biographies of Empresses and Imperial Consorts*, Zhang Heng’s *Rhapsody on the Western Capital*, *Guangya*, *Commentary on the Water Classic*, and *Yuanhe Maps of Commanderies and Counties* all contain records of jade production in Lantian. By the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Song Yingxing mentioned in *The Exploitation of the Works of Nature*: "The so-called Lantian is actually another name for the place where jade is produced in the Congling Mountains (Kunlun Mountains), but later people mistakenly believed it referred to Lantian in Xi'an." This statement sparked debates among later generations—some claimed that Lantian never produced jade at all, while others suggested that if it did, it might have been inferior "vegetable jade" (a green jade resembling vegetable leaves). In recent years, geologists in Shaanxi discovered serpentinized marble jade in Lantian, believing it to be the Lantian jade recorded in ancient texts (reported in the *People’s Daily* on November 23, 1978). This discovery not only drew attention from the geological community in their search for jade materials but also intrigued archaeologists. In 1982, the Geological Museum of the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources exhibited the aforementioned original Lantian jade stones. When serpentinization is intense, some parts of this jade even resemble Xiuyan jade. Visually, the jade exhibits uneven hues such as yellow and light green, along with light-colored marble. Although not particularly striking in appearance, the jade’s proximity to the ancient city of Xi'an, combined with its relatively soft hardness of around 4 on the Mohs scale, made it easy to work with—leading scholars to believe it may have been used by ancient artisans to craft ornaments. Among Han Dynasty jade artifacts, two pieces bear a strong resemblance to modern Lantian jade: one is a large jade door knocker unearthed near the tomb of Emperor Wu of Han in Shaanxi, embedded in an ancient tomb gate; the other is a Han Dynasty jade pendant housed in the Palace Museum. Based on the material and color of these two artifacts, many geologists consider them similar to today’s Lantian jade. However, further research is needed to confirm whether they are indeed ancient Lantian jade.

　　Nevertheless, modern-day Lantian in Xi'an has indeed become one of China’s four major jade production regions—alongside Hetian in Xinjiang, Nanyang in Henan, and Xiuyan in Liaoning—thanks to its abundant jade resources. Additionally, Lantian’s thriving jade industry, supported by numerous jade production enterprises, a highly skilled community of jade carvers, and a vast distribution network, has made it one of the county’s economic pillars and one of the first 23 "Hometowns of Shaanxi Folk Art" in the province.

　　Source: Xi’an Municipal Chronicles Office