Culture

Dushan Jade

Dushan Jade is often associated with a hung jade-ware. Referred to as 'Dushanyuhai', this jade-ware was first produced in the form of liquor jars during the early Yuan Dynasty; Kublai Khan would entertain his ministers with liquor stored in such bottles. Subsequently this type of ware went out of favor at court, and it was absent for a long time. During this period, the vessels were even used as pickle jars by monks. Fortunately, it was by chance, rediscovered by the Emperor Qianlong and it found its way back to the imperial court. Now it is displayed for tourists in the Yuwong Pavilion at the Chengguang Palace at Tuancheng, Beihai Park. So what kind of jade is it and what kind of charm did it possess for the emperor to have it carved into fine objects of art and so become national treasures?

Dushan Jade is a jade-grade zoisite rock. Its texture is rare and found in few places around the world. Dushan Jade got its name from the area that produced it – the Dushan Mountains – which is in a suburb of Nanyang City in Henan Province. It is therefore also known as 'Nanyang Jade'.

The most distinctive feature of Dushan Jade is that it exhibits a wide variety of colors – scores of them. The most common are green, white, brown, black, pink and purple. If the jade is carved into jeweler, it will usually appear jumbled and insignificant, yet it can be carved into highly interesting furnishings. The master carvers use their imagination and skill to make best use of the color distribution and the lines and shape of the work-piece they wish to make.

The criteria for judging high-grade Dushan Jade is based on its smoothness and color. Deep green is considered the best, followed by pure blue, green, green-white, blue-white, white, milky-white and cotton-rose. Regarding texture, this is judged in terms of its density, its delicacy, its purity and its being free of stripes and white veins. Top quality jade should also possess superior hardness, a stronger luster and good transparency. The high-grade Dushan Jade, known as 'Nanyang Jade', is comparable with the best Burmese Jade.

Dushan Jade had been famous since ancient times. Some of the 700 jade-ware objects unearthed from the Shang Dynasty Fuhao Tomb in the Yin ruins are believed to have been carved using Dushan Jade. According to the 'Han Book' by Bangu dating from the Eastern Han periods, 'Dushan' is referred to as 'Jade Mountain'. In Shajiadian Village at the foot of the mountain is 'Jade Street' that produces and sells Dushan jade-ware and nearby is the 'Jade Street Temple'.