Jiuquan Night-Light Cup

Jiuquan Night-Light Cup

The Jiuquan Night-Light Cup is a product protected by geographical indication.

　　The Night-Light Cup is a jade drinking vessel and one of the specialties of Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China. Jiuquan jade can be categorized by color into black jade, nephrite, and yellow jade, all of which can be used to make Night-Light Cups. The patterns on the cups are naturally formed, appearing pitch-black as lacquer, emerald-green as jade, and white as mutton fat. These cups are resistant to high and low temperatures. They will not crack whether filled with hot or cold wine.

　　Jiuquan Night-Light Cup

　　The traditional handicraft "Night-Light Cup" from Jiuquan has a long history and enjoys a great reputation both domestically and internationally. As early as the time of King Mu of Zhou, the Western Regions once presented the court with a "Night-Light Ever-Full Cup." "The cup is the essence of white jade, shining bright at night" (from *Records of Ten Continents Within the Sea* by Dongfang Shuo of the Han Dynasty). The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Han wrote: "Grapes, fine wine, Night-Light Cup; I want to drink, lutes urge on horseback." The Jiuquan Night-Light Cup is meticulously carved from high-quality Qilian Mountain jade, featuring unique shapes and exquisite designs. It comes in two major categories: traditional Night-Light Cups and antique-style Night-Light Cups. Traditional styles include large, medium, and small goblets, flat-bottomed cups, beer mugs, mini cups, and three-tiered jade teacups. Antique styles include wine cups such as jue cups, phoenix cups, shang cups, bull-headed gong cups, double-phoenix cups, double-dragon crabapple cups, as well as sets of drinking and tea ware. There are also over eighty varieties of jade-carved tourist souvenir pendants.

　　Historical Background

　　Jiuquan, named after its association with wine, naturally also boasts exquisite drinking vessels—the Night-Light Cups. These cups are a long-renowned traditional Chinese handicraft. Today, sets of Night-Light Cup drinkware are increasingly favored and have become friendship cups that convey warmth across the world. "Poets adore the Night-Light Cup; its translucent sheen glows under moonlight. Heaven graces it with intricate patterns, as wine’s aroma and jade’s luster enchant the heart." The long-famed Jiuquan Night-Light Cup is truly a marvel of China. Legend has it that in the 7th century BC, during the reign of King Mu of Zhou, a small state in the Western Regions sent gifts to the court to seek peaceful coexistence. In the first year, the envoy brought Hetian jade from Xinjiang to pay tribute. King Mu was delighted by the jade and hosted the envoy and his entourage lavishly. The following year, the envoy did the same, selecting more premium jade to offer. However, King Mu’s response was lukewarm. Upon returning home, the envoy discussed the king’s indifference with his king and brainstormed ideas to win his favor. Someone suggested crafting the jade into drinking vessels, since King Mu enjoyed wine—serving it in exquisitely made cups would surely please him. True enough, in the third year, when crystal-clear, thin-as-mosquito-wing cups were presented before King Mu, he was overjoyed. Especially when the cups were filled with red wine, the moonlight shimmering on the liquid created a breathtaking sight. King Mu immediately ordered the envoy to be rewarded. Thus, the Night-Light Cup was born and earned its name. The cup does not emit light on its own but reflects external light to create its magical effect. "Golden Zhangye, silver Wuwei, jade Jiuquan"—when speaking of Jiuquan, one of the famous Four Commanderies of the Hexi Corridor in history, one must mention the Night-Light Cups produced there. "Grapes, fine wine, Night-Light Cup; I want to drink, lutes urge on horseback. Drunk on the battlefield, don’t laugh at me—who of the ancient warriors returned?" The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Han’s poem *Liangzhou Ci* has immortalized the grape wine of ancient Liangzhou and the Night-Light Cups of Jiuquan through the ages.

　　Cultural Significance

　　The radiant Jiuquan Night-Light Cup is not only a fine gift for friends and a delightful drinking vessel, but its unique carving craftsmanship is also a treasured cultural heritage that future generations take pride in. On May 20, 2006, this heritage was approved by the State Council and included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage listings. On June 5, 2007, Li Hongbin from Suzhou District was recognized by the Ministry of Culture as a representative inheritor of this cultural heritage project and was listed among the first 226 national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritors. The Jiuquan Night-Light Cup is not only a traditional Chinese handicraft with a long history but also an exquisite drinking vessel. The cups are meticulously crafted from Jiuquan jade found around the Qilian Mountains. The jade is fine-grained, with naturally smooth and transparent patterns, and the cup walls are as thin as eggshells. Colors range from crisp green, dark green, goose yellow, to mutton fat white. When fine wine is poured into the cup and placed under moonlight, the cup sparkles brilliantly. The Night-Light Cup resists high temperatures and extreme cold. It won’t crack when filled with hot wine or burst in freezing weather. The wine inside retains its color and enhances in flavor, earning it the title "essence of white jade." According to *Records of Ten Continents*, during the time of King Mu of Zhou, the Western Regions presented the court with Ever-Full Night-Light Cups, described as the essence of white jade, highlighting the unique features of these cups. Poetic lines such as the Tang Dynasty’s "Grapes, fine wine, Night-Light Cup" and Comrade Ye Jianying’s "Tasting spring water and wine, admiring the glowing cup" have further spread the fame of the Night-Light Cup. It is now exported to many countries and regions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, enjoying great popularity in the international market.

　　Product Features

　　The Night-Light Cup is carved from high-quality jades such as old mountain jade, new mountain jade, and river jade from the Qilian Mountains. With diverse shapes, it is delicate, crystal-clear, and truly captivating. Its features include resistance to high temperatures, tolerance to extreme cold, no cracking when filled with hot or cold wine, and no breaking upon impact. If poured under the bright moonlight at night, the cup glows brilliantly, uplifting the spirit and inspiring enthusiasm.

　　Product Material

　　The Jiuquan "Night-Light Cup" is meticulously crafted from premium Qilian Mountain jade. Its patterns are natural, the cup as thin as paper, shiny as a mirror, smooth inside and out, with transparent and vivid jade color. When used to serve wine, it delivers a sweet and lasting taste. Especially under moonlight, the cup appears as clear as water with an otherworldly glow.

　　Product Varieties

　　Traditional styles include large, medium, and small goblets, flat-bottomed cups, beer mugs, mini cups, and three-tiered jade teacups. Antique styles include wine cups such as jue cups, phoenix cups, bull-headed gong cups, shang cups, double-phoenix cups, double-dragon crabapple cups, as well as over eighty varieties of drinkware, tea ware, and jade-carved souvenir pendants. They are treasured souvenirs and ideal gifts for family and friends.

　　Production Process

　　Jiuquan Night-Light Cups are all carved from jade sourced from the Qilian Mountains, located about a hundred kilometers from Jiuquan. The Night-Light Cup has existed at least since the Tang Dynasty. Producing a Night-Light Cup involves over twenty processes, including drilling, cutting, hollowing, shaping, fine grinding, polishing, and waxing.

　　Future Prospects

　　The Jiuquan Night-Light Cup has been widely known since the Tang Dynasty, with the ancient saying "wine poured in Night-Light Cups." The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Han wrote in his *Liangzhou Ci*: "Grapes, fine wine, Night-Light Cup; I want to drink, lutes urge on horseback; drunk on the battlefield, don’t laugh at me—who of the ancient warriors returned?" With the push for western development and rapid growth in tourism, the Night-Light Cup has entered ordinary households, and its unique features have won people’s affection. The Night-Light Cup is hailed as an important folk art treasure, with legends claiming it can ward off evil spirits.

　　The production area of Jiuquan Night-Light Cups covers the current administrative region of Suzhou District, Gansu Province.