Jade Phoenix C-Dragon

Jade Phoenix C-Dragon ARCHEOLOGICAL PERIOD: Neolithic Cultures (c. 7000-1600 B.C.) APPROXIMATE SIZE: H 9.25” x W 6.75” x T 1.25” GEMSTONE MATERIAL: Ancient Nephrite Jade

After millennia of working with stone the people of ancient times developed an profound appreciation for the exceptional qualities and luminous beauty of jade.

"Jade was carved into ritual objects based on the cosmological views and religious faith of the time. The shapes, designs, and markings of these objects were believed to channel supernatural powers that could assist in the communication between the mortal and celestial worlds.”

According to Confucius—The reason that Jade became the preeminent ‘stone of the heaven’ is because the people of ancient times regarded it as a symbol of the highest virtues.

• Its gentle, smooth, glossy appearance suggests charity of heart and it”s refined, compact texture and hardness suggests wisdom.

• It is firm yet does not wound and when struck, it gives a clear resounding note that is long and gradually fades suggesting song and music.

• Its flaws do not hide its excellences, nor do it”s excellences hide its flaws, suggesting loyalty, confidence and truth.

• It appears in all the colors of the rainbow, suggesting the heavens above.

• It is found in hill and stream, suggesting the earth below; • When used to fashion sacred symbols it suggests the exemplification of that than which there is nothing in the world of equal value.

Thousands of years before the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza and beginning nearly seven thousand years ago (4700BCE) the Hongshan, peopled the Steeps of Inner Mongolia and Northern China. They built temples and populated cities and are one of the earliest and most advanced civilizations yet to be discovered.

They were ultimate masters of carving jade and the quality of their work during this early period simply defies explanation.

Hongshan Culture, C-shape Dragon H. 18cm

Figure 1 This “Jade C Dragon” was excavated from a Hung-shan Culture site in Inner Mongolia and dates to around 5000 years ago.

This slender, snake-like serpent was delicately carved and engraved with lines. It has few features apart from its long mouth, nose, eyes, and what appears to be a flaring mane. Similar to the Jade Phoenix C-Dragon it bares archaic evidences of differential weathering and incremental markings that clearly indicate its genuineness.

The “C” dragon (See Figure 1) was one of the most significant archaeological finds from the Neolithic Hongshan area. It”s precise meaning remains mystery even today. However some experts concur that it is highly likely that the “C” dragon was a tribal emblem of a branch of the Hongshan people. It is probably meant to be placed at the top of a wooden pole that may have been held in hand by a tribal chief, or set up on an altar.

The material and form of the Jade Phoenix C-Dragon, resembles the one pictured above but is totally unique and indeed a phenomenal specimen of their work.

“The appreciation of archaic Chinese jades involves more than just the enjoyment of their solemn aloofness and brilliant luster. One must look beyond their physical properties—what can be seen and touched—to the metaphysical spirit that they

embody.”

Animals—real and mythological—play a vital role in the Chinese rich and varied culture. For millennia, Chinese people have attributed symbolic significance to animals and creatures. Well aware of the power of these symbols, artists have long used them to enliven their works.

In this totem’istic conception each animal species is viewed as an effect, an outer, ‘materialized’ representation of one of the archetypical properties that reside in the human being.

Human cognition, imagination and the body’s organic intelligence originated from the same principles and potentialities that gave rise to the animal kingdom and natural world.

Besides the many similarities the Jade Phoenix C-Dragon shares with the Jade C-Dragon (Figure 1) it also resembles the Manchurian Pig Dragon (Yu-Zhu-Long) and perhaps more closely the Jade C Dragon pictured below in figure 2. It was these dragons that combined to become the embryo that over the ages morphed into the more familiar dragons of contemporary lore.

The three most important mythic-figures of the Hanshan and their contemporary, the Liangzhu Culture—the Dragon, Phoenix and Spirit-Face, are all exquisitely fused in the striking sim-

Figure 2, While heavily aged the eyes, beak and C shape of this specimine are still visible. The beak is much less squared and more bird like than the example we saw in figure 1.

Figure 3, During the Neolithic period, the trinity of the dragon, phoenix and spirit face represented the awesome, primal forces of the nature.

The ‘spirit’ face of the nealing figure is reminisent of one who is bowed in prayer. The phoenix appears to be perched, eminating from his head.

This is likely a shamanic reference to the spirit projection of a man who is deep in meditative trance.

plicity of this ancient jade piece (Figure 3, next page).

The motifs of dragon, phoenix and spirit-man evolved and appear much later on the jade artifacts of the Shang dynasty (1600-1050 BCE). The spirit face became scarce after the Tang dynasty (618-906 ACE) and the motifs of dragon and phoenix became associated with royalty. The dragon came to symbolize the emperor, and the phoenix represented the empress.

In Western legend, the phoenix, or Red Bird, rises from the ashes of its own funeral pyre to live again. In China, the bird has connotations of immortal worlds and paradise. The phoenix is often associated with the dragon.

The older jades withstanding the test of time, retain their former mystique and vitality. They have a particular “feel” - dignified yet approachable, a divine animal that is the friend of the tribe and object of worship.

The older jades withstanding the test of time, retain their former mystique and vitality. They have a particular ‘feel’ - dignified yet approachable, a divine animal that is the friend of the tribe and object of worship.

Ancient jade buried for millennia would come into contact with different minerals from the burial site, which penetrate the jade in various ways depending on its texture and events in its surrounding such as rain, flooding or drought; hence the many different tinges and stains.

Whereas the original jade may be dark green, light green, green-yellow, sometimes beige white, it often turns chalky in combination with lime. Other stains may be due to mercury (deep patches of very dark blue close to black), iron oxide (reddish brown), copper (green), crude oil (drippy dark brown - other impurities spread in patches while the highly viscous oil and some tree resins leave streaky stains).

As a typical artifact from the Hongshan period, the Jade Phoenix “C”-Dragon has elegant incised lines particularly around the eyes and beak. It also has the tear drop shaped eyes that are common of Hongshan style. The couture of its body is well rounded, proportional and stands perfectly balanced.

The lustrous verdant green, the original color Manassa (River) nephrite that it was carved from, still shows through the slight patina of calcification and aged accents of reddish brown tones.

It is completely intact with no cracks or breakage and is likely to be around 5000 years old. It is approximately 24cm tall, with a width of 17cm and a thickness of 4cm and weighs around 2 kilos.