Jade carving is the process by which the surface of jade stone is embellished through abrasion. The earliest known carved jades were made in China during the New Stone Age, or Neolithic period. Neolithic jades were usually fashioned as blades, although it is unclear whether they served a utilitarian or ceremonial function.
Excavations conducted at sites settled during the Shang dynasty have yielded a number of carved jades in a variety of forms. Certain shapes predominate, such as the round disk (pi), the ax (kuei), and a cylindrical tube (tsung). These objects probably served a ritual function, either as symbols of rank or as grave furnishings. The most beautiful examples of Shang jade carving, however, are small sculptures and plaques. The discovery, in 1975, of an undisturbed tomb from the Anyang era of the Shang dynasty has yielded the richest group of jade carvings to date. The excavation revealed plaques depicting dragons and various birds, along with near-miniature sculptures of human figures, mythical creatures, and recognisable animals, including an elephant.
The achievements of the Shang jade carvers were adopted and ultimately surpassed by artists of the Chou dynasty. Surface decoration became increasingly sophisticated, with open- work featuring birds and dragons, as well as tiny, individually carved curls. The development of the iron drill is probably responsible for the technical advancements seen in the carvings of this period. Elaborate jade carving continued in popularity during the Han dynasty; in addition, a most notable jade artefact was the so-called funerary suit. Various excavations have yielded corpses encased in a jade form made of thousands of rectangular pieces of jade, sewn together with gold thread, and fitted to the body. Other small jades, previously objects for burial, were now fashioned for the uses of the living. Toilet boxes, drinking vessels, and delightful adornments for the scholar's desk have been preserved from the Han period.
The dating of jade carvings from after the Han dynasty through the Ch'ing dynasty has been highly problematic, as the archaeological evidence is often incomplete. Throughout this period, however, small decorative forms of jade, often depicting animals, flowers, or children, continued in popularity. T'ang and Sung carvers favoured small figures. Drinking and desk vessels, and jadejewellery as well, were widely produced in the Yuan and Ming epochs. During the Ch'ing period, particularly in the 18th century, large jade carvings attained great favour with the emperors and royal officials. Forms were often taken from ancient bronze vessels, reflecting the continuing interest in early art. Landscapes, often paralleling those found on carved bamboo or in paintings, were carefully transcribed onto the surface of enormous jade slabs. Much of this intricacy is still found in Chinese jade work today; traditional design motifs and carving styles also have been retained. China's continuous interest in jade carving was never found in other Asian nations.
The Indians practised a degree of jade work, most notably the Islamic Mughals, who favoured ceremonial weapons with highly decorative jade blades. The most important centre of jade carving outside the Orient was pre-Columbian Mexico and Central America under the Olmec, Aztec, and Mayan rulers. Splendid ceremonial objects-axes, knives, masks, and large animal figures-were produced; the objects are sophisticated in style and highly advanced in technique. Research Jade Carving
Antigorite is an iron-bearing secondary mineral found in serpentine. Antigorite is a hydrous silicate of magnesium and iron and belongs to the kaolinte-serpentine group of minerals. It has a green or yellowish-green colour and has a resilient structure making it suitable for carving and polishing, often being sold as a cheap artificial jade. Research Antigorite
Axstone (axe-stone) is a variety of jade. It is used by some native peoples, particularly the natives of the South Sea Islands, for making axes or hatchets. Research Axstone
Jade is a compact, opaque gemstone ranging in colour from dark green to almost white. The term is applied to specimens cut from the minerals jadeite and nephrite.
Jadeite, the less common and more highly prized of the two minerals, is a silicate of sodium and aluminium, NaAl(SiO3)2, usually containing some iron, calcium, and magnesium. It belongs to the group of minerals called pyroxenes.
Jadeite crystallizes in the monoclinic system but rarely occurs in distinct crystals and is usually found in fibrous, compact, massive aggregates. It has a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7; it is extremely tough and difficult to break. The lustre on fresh fracture is dull and wax like, but polished jadeite has a vitreouslustre. Jadeite is found chiefly in eastern Asia in Burma, as well as in sections of Tibet and southern China. Nephrite, a member of the amphibole group of minerals, is a silicate of calcium and magnesium, with a small amount of iron replacing part of the magnesium. It is a tough, compact variety of the mineral tremolite with a hardness of 6 to 6.5. Polished nephrite has an oily lustre. It is found in Alaska, Mexico, New Zealand, Siberia, and Turkestan.
Jade was used in ancient times for weapons, utensils, and ornaments. A variety of jade called axstone is used by the natives of the South Sea islands for making hatchets. Jade has always been prized by the Chinese and Japanese as the most precious of all stones, and the most beautiful specimens of carved jade in the form of ornamental pieces, such as vases, bowls, tablets, and statues, many of which are now museum pieces, were made in China. Jade is a highly valued gemstone used in jewellery. Research Jade
Chun Mee is a variety of Chinese green tea named from the shape of the leaves. The processing of 'eyebrow' teas demands great skill in order to hand roll the leaves to the correct shape at the right temperature for the correct length of time. These long, fine jade leaves give a clear pale yellow liquor with a smooth taste. Research Chun Mee More information about Chun Mee
HMS Jade (formerly the Lady Lilian) was a British armed trawler of 615 tons displacement launched in 1933 and used by the British navy during the Second World War for anti-submarine training. HMS Jade had a top speed of 12 knots and was armed with one 4-inch gun and depth charges. Research Jade
Burma (now called Myanmar) is a country in Asia bounded on the north by Assam and Tibet, on the east by Chinese territory andThailand , elsewhere mainly by the Bay of Bengal. It has a total area of 678,500 km2. The climate is tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot with humidsummers (south-west monsoon, June to September); less cloudy with scant rainfall, mild temperatures and lower humidity during the winter (north-east monsoon, December to April). The terrain is comprised of central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands. Between these ranges and in the plains or valleys here situated the four great rivers of Burma - the Irrawaddy, its tributary the Kyen-dwen, the Sittang, and the Salwen - flow in a southerly direction to the sea, watering the rich alluvial tracts of Lower Burma, and having at their mouths all the great seaports of the country. Natural resources are crude oil, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones (the chief precious stone is the ruby, Sapphire, amber, and jade are also obtained), and natural gas. The religion is 85% Buddhist, 15% animist beliefs, Muslim, Christian, or other. The language is Burmese but minority ethnic groups have their own numerous languages.
The natives all belong to the Mongolian type of mankind, but are made up of a great variety of races besides the Burmese proper, as Talaings, Shans, Karens, etc. The Burmese proper are of a brown colour, with lank, black hair (seldom any on the face), and have active, vigorous, well-proportioned frames. They are a cheerful, lively people, fond of amusement, averse to continuous exertion, free from prejudice of caste or creed, temperate and hardy.
Under its native kings the form of government in Burma was an absolute monarchy, the seat of government being at Mandalay. The king was assisted in governing by a council of state known as the H'loot-daw, to which belonged the functions of a house of legislature, a cabinet, and a supreme court. The king had power to punish at his pleasure anyone, even the great officers of state. The revenue was derived from taxes levied in a very irregular and capricious manner, and official corruption was rampant. The criminal laws were barbarously severe. Capital punishment was commonly inflicted by decapitation, but crucifixion and disembowelling were also practised. After the loss of the maritime provinces in the 19th century to Britain, the influence of Independent Burma greatly declined, as did also its Asiatic and foreign trade.
The Burmeseempire is of little note in ancient or general history. Since the 16th century the Burmese proper have mostly been the predominant race, and ruled the Peguans, Karens, etc, throughout the country. The capital has at different times been at Ava, Pegu, Prome, or elsewhere. In the latter half of the 18th century the Burmese emperors began a series of wars of conquest with China, Thailand, Assam, through which they greatly enlarged the empire. This brought them into contact with the British, and in 1824 war was declared against them on account of their encroachments on British territory and their seizure of British subjects. The war terminated in the cession of the provinces of Aracan and Tenasserim to the British. Peace continued for some years, but latterly various acts of hostility were committed by the Burmese, and in 1852 the maltreatment of British subjects occasioned a second war, at the end of which the British possessions were extended to include the whole of Pegu. The third and last war occurred in 1885 in consequence of the arrogance and arbitrary conduct of King Theebaw. The result was that Upper Burma was annexed to the British empire by proclamation of the Viceroy of India, on the 1st of January 1886, and thus became a province of India.
In 1937 Burma was raised to the status of a British crown colony, and in 1948 was granted independence. In 1974 the monarchy was removed and Burma became a Socialist republic, changing its name to the Union of Myanmar in 1989. Research Burma
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Matt and Leela Probert
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