Jade has played an essential role in Chinese
philosophy, religion politics, and economics or over 6,000 years. The
development of jade appliances since the Sung (960 A.D. - 1279 A.D.) and
Yuan (1271 A.D. - 1368 A.D.) dynasties inclined much more to pure
artistry and craftsmanship. There were some ritual jade utensils used by
the emperor in sacrificial rites. There were also many jade utensils
attributable mainly to their sophisticated aesthetic appeal.The majority
of carved jade items were ornamental in nature, including pieces for
display and items for personal use, such as brush holders, water cups,
armrests, as well as combs, hairpins, bracelets, and waist pendants.
Confucius, one of the most distinguished
Chinese scholars, had ever talked about Jade to his disciples. He made a
perfect annotation about Jade two thousand and five hundred years ago:
ˇ§men of olden days regarded jade as a symbol of the virtues. Its
gentle, smooth, glossy appearance suggests charity of heart; its fine
close texture and hardness suggests wisdom; it is firm and yet does not
wound, suggesting duty to one's neighbor; it hangs down as though
sinking, suggesting ceremony; struck, it gives a clear note, long drawn
out, dying gradually away and suggesting music; its flaws do not hide
its excellences, nor do its excellences hide its flaws, suggesting
loyalty; it gains our confidence, suggesting truth; its spirituality is
like the bright rainbow, suggesting the heavens above; its energy is
manifested in hill and stream, suggesting the earth below; as articles
of regalia it suggests the exemplification of that than which there is
nothing in the world of equal value, and thereby is Tao itself."
Significances of Jade in Chinese Culture
The Chinese wear jade as a symbol of their moral
integrity, nobility, perfection, and constancy. In the esteem of the
Chinese, jade outranks all other gemstones, including diamonds,
emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls. It is the most important
gemstone in China appearing a lot of times in Chinese mythology. For
instance, Jade Emperor is the supreme god in ancient Chinese mythology.
He rules kingdom of the heavens. The Jade rabbit of Chinese myth lives
in the moon, where it grinds Jade into an elixir which promotes
immortality.
Significances of Jade in Other
Cultures
ˇD Native Americans view Jade as a sacred
stone, and believed of jade's ability to heal the kidneys.
ˇD
The term "Jade" is derived from a Spanish phrase which literally means
"stone for the loins on the body". Coincidentally, ˇ§Nephriteˇ¨ gets its
name from the Greek word ˇ§Nephrosˇ¨, which means kidney.
Jade was adopted as the Alaska State Gem in
1968. Nephrite was adopted as Wyoming 's official gemstone on January
25, 1967.
The use of jade spans all ranks and
classes over the centuries and holds spiritual as well as commercial
values.
Here are some spiritual functions of JADE:
Increasing fertility and longevity. Aiding with some
disorders and feminine problems. Radiating unconditional, divine love.
Enhancing clarity, modesty, courage, justice, and wisdom. An emotional
balancer to dispel negative energy and to refill positive energy.
(Why People want to wear the Jade and Chinese
Zodiac crafts?)
In Chinese culture, people often wear the
jade or Chinese zodiac crafts on hand or around the corner in order not
only to have a pretty adornment but also to enhance their good luck!!!
Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz is one of the most
desirable varieties of natural quartz. The pink to rose-red color is
completely unique and unlike any other pink mineral species. The color
is caused by iron and titanium. Rose quartz is commonly used as an
ornamental stone and as a gemstone.
VARIETY INFORMATION:
ˇD
VARIETY OF: Quartz , SiO 2 , Silicon Dioxide.
ˇD COLOR: various
shades of pink to a rosy-red.
ˇD INDEX OF REFRACTION:
1.544-1.553
ˇD CRYSTAL SYSTEM: Hexagonal
SPIRITUAL FUNCTIONS OF ROSE QUARTZ:
ˇD A stone from the heart and for the heart.
ˇD Opens up the heart for both giving and receiving love.
ˇD Soothes negative emotion and influences.
ˇD A good
stone for dealing with a "broken heart".
ˇD Helps ones to be
able to love themselves and find their self-esteem.
(Why
People want to wear natural Rose Quartz Chinese Zodiac crafts?)
In Chinese culture, people often wear the Rose Quartz
Chinese zodiac crafts on hand or around the corner in order not only to
have a pretty Chinese-aroma adornment but also to enhance their good
luck!!!
Cloisonne
Cloisonne is a unique art form
originated in Beijing , China during 1271 ˇV 1368. In the period titled
'Jingtai' during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the emperor was very
much interested in bronze-casting techniques. C raftsmen of the time
found a very special blue glaze in bright blue that appealed to the
Oriental aesthetic sense . It is decent and elegant for the contemporary
artworks, which is the cloisonne we are using now . Their favorite
called 'Jingtai Blue'.
During the reigns of Chin Dynasty (1644 - 1911),
cloisonne improved and arrived its artistic crest. Colors were more
varied, filigrees were more flexible and fluent, and scope was enlarged
to snuff bottles, folding screens, even tables, chairs, chopsticks, and
bowls.
Manufacturing cloisonne is comprehensive and
sophisticated, combining the skills of making both bronze and porcelain
ware, as well as traditional painting and sculpture. Here is the process
of making the cloisonne:
(1) Model hammering: To form copper
pieces into various shapes with a hammer according to the design,
joining them under high temperature.
(2) Filigree welding: The craftsmen
pinches and curves copper filigree into delicate flower patterns,
pasting them onto the copper molds. They heat it to 900 degrees
centigrade to firm the metal.
(3) Enamel filling: The cloisonne
wears a colored wrap through this procedure. Craftsmen fill enamel glaze
into lattices formed by fine-spun filigrees. They fuse powdery glaze at
800 degrees centigrade, then take the object out and repeat the process
three or four times until its surface becomes smooth.
(4) Surface polishing: Craftsmen
polish articles three times with grit or charcoal. The work requires
extreme care to seek smooth surfaces.
(5) Gilding: After acid pickling,
fluid gold adds elegance and civility to a cloisonne piece.
Today cloisonne technique is associated with the
sculpture of wood, jade, ivory and lacquer. Cloisonne art is exported to
many countries as a favorite medium for ornaments with the combination
of Chinese traditional arts.
(Why People want to wear Cloisonne Chinese
Zodiac crafts?)
In Chinese culture, people often wear the
Cloisonne Chinese zodiac crafts on hand or around the
corner in order not only to have a pretty Chinese-aroma adornment but
also to enhance their good luck!!!