Chinese has been using jade for more than 7,000 years. In this long history, people have given jade many beautiful meanings. In the warehouse of changsha museum, there are thousands of pieces of jade, from the Warring States period to the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the People's Republic, especially in the Warring States and Han Dynasties, the most exquisite, and several Warring States jade pendants are selected as follows:
Huang-shaped dragon and phoenix pattern jade pendant, 1 piece, green jade. It is 15.5 cm long, 5.7 cm high and weighs 64.8 g. In 1982, the Municipal Cultural Relics Task Force excavated Tomb No. 2 of the United Front Headquarters in the East District of Huangnikeng, Changsha City. The jade pendant is flattened semi-circular, with a dragon-shaped huang as the base, and two sets of dragon and phoenix patterns are carved on the huang. The dragon-shaped body is flattened and curved, with a circular cut-out hole at the upper middle end, which is a perforation. The two ends are carved into the shape of a dragon's head, the edges are stringed, and the inner area is carved with a valley pattern. The two sets of dragon and phoenix patterns are carved on the huang, and the dragons and phoenixes are intertwined with each other, and the phoenix's back is attached to the dragon's head at both ends of the huang. The dragon and phoenix tattoos are decorated with the typical ∽ ornaments and checks of the Warring States, and a printed line groove is outlined along the edges to make the theme outline more distinct. (Figure 1)
Figure 1
"S" shaped dragon and phoenix pattern jade pendant, 2 pieces, all of which are of green jade, from the same tomb, the shape and ornamentation of the instrument are the same. The dimensions are length 21.5 cm, height 9 cm, thickness 0.5 cm and length 21.4 cm, height 9.4 cm and thickness 0.5 cm. In 1987, the Changsha Museum excavated the Wulipai No. 1 Tomb. Jade pendant, two sides of the same ornamentation, one end carved dragon head flexion, leaping, looking back at the look; One end is carved with drum eyes, hooking the mouth of the phoenix, the crown of the phoenix is upturned, the neck feathers are plump, and the wings are fluttering; The body is decorated with grain patterns, full and symmetrical. The jade pendant shape is large, vivid and chic, the knife method is rounded and refined, the lines are smooth, and the jade color is smooth and smooth. (Figures 2 and 3)
Figure 2
Figure 3
"S" shaped dragon pattern jade pendant, 1 piece, green jade. The length is 14.1 cm, the height is 8.5 cm, and the thickness is 0.5 cm. In 1987, tomb No. 1 of Wuyi Road Primary School in Wulipai Bayi Road in Changsha City was excavated. Larger body size. There is a circular perforation in the middle of the apex, which is a perforation. The dragon's head and neck are raised and attached to the dragon's body. The dragon's tail is mutilated, but the mutilated part can still show its coarse upward movement, with one foot bent to the ground and one foot rolled upwards. The dragon ear wheel gallery is carved with a shady line, the edges are stringed, and the dragon body is decorated with a relief valley pattern. (Figure 4)
Figure 4
The above four Warring States jade pendants are all from The Chu Tomb, and from the type of instrument to the ornamentation, they all have a typical Warring States style, especially the Chu Style, which belongs to the typical artifacts in the Warring States jade, which provides a reference for us to reveal the characteristics of the Warring States jade.
The Warring States period was an era of major changes in the social pattern of ancient China, and there was also a trend of "a hundred schools of thought" in ideology and art, which had a great impact on the development of jade. During this period, in addition to the increase in jade varieties, jade ornaments are also a wide variety, the main popular ones are cloud pattern, pu pattern, valley pattern, vortex pattern, dragon and phoenix pattern, tiger pattern and combination pattern. During the Warring States period, the first combination of ornaments appeared on the jade bi, most of which were a combination of double-body animal face pattern and valley pattern, and the two groups of ornaments were spaced with rope patterns. The grain pattern is a kind of ornament that is more prevalent in the late Warring States period, and the valley pattern in the early Warring States period inherits the Spring and Autumn style, but the shape is slightly smaller, the mastoid has a feeling of tying hands, and the bottom has a prominent "bud bend", which is densely and evenly arranged. In the middle of the Warring States period, the valley pattern mastoids are short and flat, sleek in feel, and the arrangement is slightly sparse. In the late Warring States period, the grain pattern is more yin line carving, the line pattern is flowing, the line is fluent, and the feel is smooth. Valley pattern is often synonymous with paisley and recumbent silkworm pattern.
Warring States jade not only reflects the overall artistic beauty in shape and ornamentation, but also has more refined technology, and is mostly known for the techniques of hollowing and bas-relief, ingenious conception and unique shape. At the same time, there are also new characteristics and breakthroughs in carving techniques, including "green silk" line carving technology and skeleton carving technology. The above four Warring States jade pendants are the best expression of the two carving techniques, of which the Huang-shaped dragon and phoenix pattern jade pendant uses the carving technology, which was widely used in the Warring States period, and the layout of the carving place is dense, the graphics are diverse, the edges are sharp and regular, and the workmanship is fine. The other three jade pendants use the "green silk" line carving technology, which is a kind of thin green silk lines that appeared in the middle and late Warring States period, and the changeable grain pattern is its main way of expression, which is vigorous and flowing, crisscrossing, more than enough, and the pattern is not chaotic, becoming the most brilliant line decoration in the Warring States period.
The development of jade in the Warring States period has its own relatively consistent laws, but there are still subtle gaps between different countries, especially between the Central Plains countries and the Chu state, which is mainly due to the difference in ideology between the two. During the Warring States period, the Central Plains countries raised the worship of dragons to a political height, while the Chu state, which was in the "land of barbarians", did the opposite, strengthening the chongfeng consciousness, which was the need for its political expansion. Changes in ideology will inevitably lead to changes in the image, status and quantity of dragons and phoenixes on jade. Among the four jade pendants listed in the text, the image of the dragon is mostly looking back at Gu Pan, while the phoenix has a strong feeling, making it fly high with its wings, which is the common means of expression of the Chu people's Chongfeng thought.
During the Warring States period, the shape of Chudi jade became stretched and dynamic, which was mainly reflected in the late jade in the shape of a dragon and phoenix, and the image of the dragon and phoenix was generally open mouth and chest, greatly distorted, and looked vivid and lively. The carving of animal shapes in the Warring States period broke through the solemn and regular techniques of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and concentrated on the charm and dynamics of animals, making animals lifelike and making jade more spiritual. In terms of ornamentation, the Jade of Chudi is heavily decorated, and it is generally engraved with a cable pattern or a simplified one-shaped cable pattern in the gap, and there are also filled with yin carved grid patterns. Chudi dragon patterns are generally odd or chaotic, asymmetrical and lack consistency. The Warring States Chu people have a strong romantic atmosphere, do not stick to the stereotype, they are not willing to be bound by some traditional ornaments, and exert their wisdom to create some special patterns, such as triptych valley patterns, S-shaped patterns, etc., which are relatively rare in other regions and are also important features of Chu-style jade.
The Chu people's understanding of jade has a gradual and gradual process. In the middle and late Spring and Autumn Period, the Chu state already had an official who specialized in governing and controlling jade, Yu Yin. In 1987, a large number of bamboo janes were excavated from the Chu Tomb of Baoshan in Jingmen, which recorded that the Chu state had a jade mansion, which specialized in managing and manufacturing jade. In addition, there are corresponding records in the "Han Feizi". The Chu people's awareness of jade has been continuously improved, and more and more jade has been integrated into people's lives, which can be confirmed in the archaeological discoveries of Chu tombs. Jade played an important role in the life of the Chu people, from the ceremonial utensils sacrificed by princes and nobles to the daily jade of the commoners, and jade became an indispensable item. The life of the Chu people has also become colorful because of the existence of jade, and the spiritual life has been satisfied, and the innovative spirit and pioneering spirit of the Chu people have also been displayed to varying degrees in jade.
During the Warring States period, the wind of jade was prevalent. Whether from an artistic or technical point of view, they have high artistic value. In this period, peiyu, in the choice of materials, is more inclined to use Hetian jade, because its jade is warm and lustrous, and most of them are mainly blue and white; In terms of carving techniques, the simple yin line carving in the past is interspersed with pecking methods such as concealment, flat convexity and hollowing, showing flexible and diverse technical characteristics, and the carved lines are straight and smooth; In terms of decorative patterns, the main pattern is the dragon and phoenix pattern, and most of them appear in the form of combinations, and the few jade pendants introduced in the text are the best examples.
In short, warring states jade, especially Peiyu, enjoys a very special position in the history of mainland jade, and has made important developments in terms of ideological concepts, design concepts, and means and technologies of artistic expression. This is an era of succession, an era that has just got rid of various constraints and moved towards self-realization, which has laid a solid foundation for the development of jade in later generations.