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
The Willow-Herb Hawkmoth (Proserpinus proserpina) is a rare moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 37 and 42 mm. Originally from the Orient, the moth has penetrated warmer parts of Europe and is to be found by rivers or ponds, on wasteland and similar flying from May to June. Research Willow-Herb Hawkmoth
Francois-Paul Brueys-d'Aigalliers was a French admiral. He was born in 1753 at Uzes and died in 1798. He became a captain in 1792, and vice-admiral in 1798. He successfully conveyed Bonaparte and his army to Egypt in 1798, but was killed in the subsequent naval battle in the bay of Abonkir shortly before his ship, the Orient, blew up. Research Francois-Paul Brueys-d'Aigalliers
Gerard Nerval (real name Gerard Labrunie) was a French writer. He was born in 1808 at Paris and died in 1855, committing suicide. His earlier productions were poetic, Elegies nationales and Poesies diverges. As an adherent of the Romantic school he set himself to translate Johann Goethe's Faust, and performed it in a manner which the old poet himself pronounced a marvel of style. Amongst his best works are his short tales and sketches, Voyage enOrient, Contes et Faceties, La Boheme Galante, etc. Research Gerard de Nerval
Julius Furst was a Polish orientalist. He was born in 1805 at Zerkowo, PrussianPoland and died in 1873. He devoted himself to philological science, and at an early age showed a marvellously extensive acquaintance with Rabbinical literature. He obtained an appointment as lecturer in the University of Leipzig in 1839, and in 1864 was promoted to the rank of professor. He was the author of numerous works all connected with orientalphilology, chief among which are his Concordantiae Librorum Sacrorum Veteris Testamenti Hebraicae et Chaldaicae, and his Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon. From 1840 to 1851 he edited Der Orient, a journal devoted to Jewish language, literature, history, and antiquities. Research Julius Furst
The Valentinians were a sect of Gnostics, They were named after Valentinus, a priest of Alexandria, who was excommunicated in Rome, acquired a reputation as a philosophical theologian, and died in Cyprus about 160. He was one of the first to attempt the formation of a syncretistic theosophy by amalgamating Judaism and Christianity with the theogonies and philosophy of ancient Greece and the Orient. Fragments only of his writings are preserved, what is known of him being gathered from the works of Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria. Research Valentinians
William Marsden was a British author and coin collector. He was born in 1754 at Verval, Ireland and died in 1836. He served in the East India Company at Bencoolen, Sumatra from 1771 to 1779, and on his return home became secretary to the Admiralty from 1795 to 1804. He presented his Oriental books and manuscripts to King's College London, and his splendid coin collection to the British Museum. He wrote several books about Sumatra, the Malay language and coins of the Orient. Research William Marsden
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress. She was born in 1915 at Stockholm and died in 1982. She was educated at the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, Stockholm and quickly became a star in Swedish films. Her performance in Intermezzo, her eleventh film, brought her to the attention of American film producers. Her first film in the USA was an English-language version of Intermezzo. She appeared in more than twenty American and European films in the next thirty years. For her performances in Gaslight, Anastasia, and Murder on the Orient Express she received Academy Awards. Research Ingrid Bergman
In Japanese mythology, maneki neko (the beckoning cat or waving cat) originates with a story of a cat that stood in the doorway of the Gotoku-ji temple and raised her paw in the traditional Japanese beckoning gesture to a passing feudallord. The feudallord followed the cat into the temple and as he did so a lightning bolt struck the place where he had been previously standing. The lord realised that the cat had saved his life and from then on the beckoning cat represented the goddess of mercy. From Japan the mythology of the beckoning cat spread to the rest of the Orient including China, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. The cat depicted beckoning with its right hand beckons money and good fortune, the cat beckoning with its left paw is beckoning customers and good fortune. Typically the cat is depicted in three colours, however it is also produced in black as a talisman against evil and stalkers. Research Maneki Neko
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Abbreviations
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