Seen as the essence of Heaven and Earth, jade was used to make sacrificial vessels for royal families in ancient dynasties. Royal family and nobles wore jade jewelry and regarded it as a symbol of status.
Chinese people love jade for the virtue it represents. It is hard yet warm, beautiful yet reserved, noble yet inclusive. The phrase, “As modest and gentle as jade” is often used to describe a man with discreet gentility. And Chinese characters synonymous with jade are also a popular choice for children’s names.
According to archaeological findings, Chinese knew about and began to use jade during the Hongshan and Liangzhu cultures in the Neolithic Age, which is over 10,000 years ago. Since then, jade artisans one generation after another have made brilliant artworks of jade, with their exquisite skills and intricate techniques.
Among all kinds of sophisticated jade carving skills in China, the Beijing jade carving craft is world famous for its magnificence and use of royal elements. Artifacts made by this craft are widely appreciated worldwide. They are also protected by the state, and rank among the “Eight Magnificent Treasures of Beijing.”
From Palace to Households
Beijing jade carving is a popular craft in Beijing. It used to be an imperial craft, since jade was initially owned, for the most part, by the royal family and nobility, and only a small amount was available among the general public. The renowned jade cabbage in the collection of the Taipei Palace Museum in Taiwan is a typical example of this craft.
Esta historia es de la edición April 2021 de China Today (English).
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 2021 de China Today (English).
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A City with Vision for the Future
LOCATED on the edge of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at one of the farthest points in China from the sea, stands a city that began to embrace its great economic takeoff just 10 years ago.
Setting out on the Great Rejuvenation
THE centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was marked by a grand gathering held on July 1 at Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square.
A Similar History Has United Us
— Interview with Carlos Miguel Pereira, Ambassador of Cuba to China
The CPC's 100 Years of “Routine Miracles”
AT a grand ceremony commemorating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Beijing’s Tian’anmen Square on July 1, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, solemnly declared the completion of building China into a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the country’s first centenary goal.
An Open Xinjiang with Multi-Ethnic Beliefs
SINCE ancient times, Xinjiang has been a region where ethnic groups live together, religious beliefs are diversified, and many cultures coexist. Primitive religion and Shamanism were initially prevalent in the region.
Xinjiang in My Eyes
ON May 24, 2021, I boarded a flight to Urumqi from Beijing with a group of Chinese and foreign journalists to learn more about Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a vast territory that is home to many ethnic groups and diverse cultures. The visit has left me with lasting memories and a deeper understanding of the people and the region as a whole.
Stability and Development Are the Strongest Evidences of Human Rights
OVER the past months hostile elements in certain Western countries have trumped-up charges against China concerning human rights in Xinjiang, spreading lies about “forced labor,” “genocide,” and “religious oppression” in the region.
BRI Nexus Promoting Multilateralism in a Post-Pandemic World
BORN of centuries-long interactions between China and other civilizations along the ancient Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) appears as the quintessential manifestation of multilateralism on the world stage since the Second World War which was, sad to say, one of quite a different kind.
Tourism Boosts Rural Revitalization in Ili
THEY say you never know how big China is until you come to Xinjiang, and never know how beautiful Xinjiang is until you come to Ili.
Xinjiang's Cotton Industry Gets Smart
LOCATED in the northwest of China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region boasts long hours of sunshine and ample water for irrigation — making the region geographically ideal for growing cotton. Cotton grown in Xinjiang, which has good coloration and long fiber, is favored in both domestic and foreign markets.
