What are the famous jades in China? Where are they produced?
China's "Four Famous Jade" refers to "Hetian Jade" produced in Xinjiang, "Xiu Jade" produced in Xiuyan County, Liaoning, "Dushan Jade" produced in Nanyang, Henan, and Yun Jade in Hubei. "Turquoise" produced in counties and other places.
(1) Hotan jade is mainly distributed on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains stretching for 1,500 kilometers in Yarkand-Tashkorgan, Hotan-Khotan and Qiemo counties in Xinjiang. There are 9 origins in total. The mineral composition of Hotan jade is mainly tremolite-actinolite, and contains trace amounts of diopside, serpentine, graphite, magnet and other minerals, forming white, turquoise, black, yellow and other different colors. Most It is a single-color jade, and a few have variegated colors. Jade is translucent, has a fat-like luster after polishing, and has a hardness between 5.5 degrees and 6.5 degrees. Hotan jade is found in mountain rocks at an altitude of 3,500 to 5,000 meters. After long-term weathering and peeling, it breaks into fragments of varying sizes, collapses on the hillside, and then flows into the river after being washed by rain. When the river dries up in autumn, the jade pieces collected from the river bed are called seed jade, and those mined from the rock formations are called mountain jade. The earliest jade objects made of Hetian jade that have been discovered come from the tomb of Fuhao in Yinxu. After the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Hotan jade gradually became the main jade material, all of which were collected from seeds. In the Qing Dynasty, mountain materials began to be mined. The jade mountain "Dayu Controlled Floods" carved during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty weighed 10,700 kilograms of green jade, which was collected from Mileta Mountain.
The economic value of Hetian jade is evaluated based on the purity of its color and texture. Its main varieties are:
White jade: Containing more than 95% of tremolite, white in color, pure, delicate in texture, lustrous and moist, it is a high-quality variety of Hetian jade. During the prosperous periods of jade making in the Han, Song, and Qing dynasties, great emphasis was placed on material selection, and high-quality white jade was often carefully carved as a "heavy item."
Sheet-fat white jade: the top grade of white jade, with a pure and delicate texture containing 99% tremolite, and a white color with a subtle luster like gelatin. The economic value of jade of the same weight is several times that of white jade. Mutton-fat white jade was highly valued during the Han Dynasty, Song Dynasty and Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.
Blue white jade: There is no significant difference in texture from white jade, only the jade color is white with a light green color. It is a third-grade jade material in Hetian jade, and its economic value is slightly lower than that of white jade.
Sapphire: Sapphire is a homogeneous sapphire with light cyan, green and gray colors. It has a uniform color and fine texture. It contains 89% tremolite and 6% actinolite. It has a greasy luster and rich reserves. It is The main varieties of jade collected or mined in the past dynasties.
Topaz: The matrix is white jade, which forms a yellow tone in the gaps due to long-term infiltration of iron oxide in surface water. According to the color change, they are named: dense wax yellow, chestnut yellow, okra yellow, yellow flower yellow, egg yolk, etc. Dense sallow yellow and chestnut yellow with strong color are extremely rare, and their economic value can be equal to that of mutton-fat white jade. In the Qing Dynasty, because topaz was a homophone for "emperor" and was extremely rare, its economic value once exceeded that of mutton-fat white jade.
Sugar jade: Iron oxide penetrates into tremolite to form red shells of different shades. The deep red ones are called "sugar jade" and "tiger skin jade", and the white and slightly pink ones are called "pink jade". Sugar jade is often combined with white jade or plain jade to form a two-color jade material, which can be used to make "pretty jade". Snuff bottles are made from sugar jade skin shell seeds and are said to be "gold wrapped in silver" to increase their value.
Black jade: tremolite is black due to graphite and magnet components. Most of the black jade is gray-white or gray-black jade with black markings, which are named "dark clouds, light black light, golden mink beard, beauty temples, etc." according to the shape. Those with thick and dense black spots are called pure lacquer ink, and their value is higher than other black jade Variety. Black jade has a waxy luster and is not suitable for carving and decoration due to its uneven color. It is mostly used to make vessels inlaid with gold and silver filaments.
Jasper: Produced in the Junggar jade mine, it is also called Tianshan jasper. Dark green, dark green, with pure dark green color as the top grade. The quality of jasper with black spots, black spots or jade veins is lower than that of jasper. It is a mid-range jade.
(2) Xiuyan jade is produced in Xiuyan, Liaoning Province, China. Xiuyan County is a feng shui treasure land with beautiful mountains and clear waters, rich products, and the accumulation of wind and energy. Evolution has condensed the essence of the sun, moon, mountains and rivers for thousands of years, thus producing the world-famous national treasure - Xiuyan jade.
Xiuyan jade is one of the four famous jades in China. There are two types, one is old jade (also known as river jade), which has a simple, dignified texture and dark green color. It is a precious rough jade, and the other is nephrite, which has a solid and warm texture, delicate and round. Melt, mostly green, and the two colors of pure white and golden are rare treasures.
Xiu jade is produced under the ground veins with sufficient earth spirit. During the formation process of tens of millions of years, it has absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and the aura of nature. Therefore, in addition to its own collectible value, it also has It has great value in Feng Shui.
Since modern humans live in buildings, the reinforced concrete of modern buildings isolates the breath and magnetic field of nature, making the distance between humans and nature further and further away. If you can place a piece of Xiu Jade with beautiful texture in your home, it will not only have a pleasing ornamental value, but the beautiful jade will also bring a natural atmosphere to your home, supplement the natural magnetic field indoors, and adjust the indoor Feng Shui. climate.
“When righteousness is stored, evil cannot be invaded.” If you have beautiful jade in your home, evil cannot invade. Wearing a piece of beautiful jade on your body will add natural strength.
According to the observations of Western astrologers, green is the main artery of modern social economy. Therefore, natural green will definitely boost your career and wealth. Among them, the green color of old jade is dignified and deep, which is very beneficial to For those who have a successful career, because it can help you accumulate wealth, gather financial resources, and make your career stable and solid, so collecting a few pieces of old jade and placing them in your home or office will definitely make your career go well. . Nephrite, because of its green color, roundness, and harmony, is very conducive to the development and utilization of financial resources, with regular entry and exit, and free delivery and receipt. Not only that, because of the warmth and beauty of its texture, it can encourage people around it to value harmony and bring wealth, improve interpersonal relationships, and promote harmony in the family. Therefore, whether it is a person who is successful in his career or someone who is starting a business, it is a rare treasure. Whether it is placed at home or in the office, it can not only develop financial resources, but also play a positive role in improving career and luck.
Most Xiu jade is mostly green, so in addition to the above functions, it is of great significance to people who like wood in the five elements of numerology. If you place green Xiu jade at home or in the office, or Wearing it yourself will bring you good luck. If you can like it from the heart and get close to it from the soul, in the long run, you will be connected with the beautiful jade and your destiny will change from then on.
(3) Dushan Jade, also known as "Nanyang Jade" or "Nanyang Jade", is produced in Dushan in the north of Nanyang City. It is one of the four famous jades in the country. Dushan jade is tough and slightly dense, delicate and soft, with a transparent luster and mottled colors. There are 6 pigments, green, white, yellow, purple, red and white, and 77 color types. It is the first-class raw material for jade carving.
Dushan jade carving has a long history. The jade shovel produced at the Huangshan Neolithic Site near Dushan in 1959 proves that ancestors had known and used Dushan jade more than 5,000 years ago. The ruins of "Yujie Temple" at the foot of Dushan Mountain were the place where jade articles were carved during the Han Dynasty. The "Revised Nanyang County Chronicle" of the Qing Dynasty records: "Most of the residents in the north of the county make a living by carving jade." In old China, Nanyang jade carving has formed a large industry. There are more than 80 workshops in the city, most of which are workshops in the back and shops in the front. The carving sells itself. Jade carvings mainly include more than 120 varieties of figures, flowers, birds and animals, landscapes, statues, furnaces, jewelry, etc. The single jade carvings are sparkling and exquisite, making them a famous specialty of Nanyang.
(4) Turquoise, also known as emerald, is named after its color and shape like a green pine cone. It is one of the rare precious gemstones in the world. Green Turquoise products have now become important collections. It is a secondary mineral that was leached from groundwater containing copper, aluminum, and phosphorus in early granite stones. It precipitated in the veins near the surface to form nodules, and was formed by the veins. wrapped in matrix. Turquoise is the earliest mineral variety used as jewelry. In 1900, four turquoise and gold-covered bracelets were unearthed from an ancient tomb in Egypt.
As an accessory, people love the green color and texture of turquoise. In ancient times, people associated it with religion and superstition. Turquoise is particularly revered in Tibet, my country, and it is still a sacred decorative item used in religious ceremonies. American Indians believe that turquoise is the spirit of the sea and blue sky and a symbol of divine power. Most ancient civilizations admire turquoise, such as Egypt, Persia, and the Aztecs (ancient Mexican Indian country). Turquoise has different colors due to the different elements it contains. When it contains copper oxides, it appears blue, and when it contains iron oxides, it appears green. Color is an important factor affecting the quality of turquoise. The main producing areas of turquoise are the southern states of the United States, the northeastern part of Iran, and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.
China, Australia, Chile, Afghanistan, and Russia also produce a small amount of turquoise. However, the world's largest turquoise gemstone is produced in Yungai Mountain at an altitude of more than 1,200 meters in Yunxian County, Hubei Province. This piece of turquoise is 82 centimeters long, 29 centimeters high and 29 centimeters wide, and weighs 66 kilograms. It is blue and green in color, with a complete structure and fine texture.
The Yunyang area of Hubei Province is known as the hometown of emeralds in the East. The turquoise it produces is pure in quality, bright in color, and dazzling. The colors are mostly sky blue, turquoise, gray-blue, and pink-green, which are extremely rare. . The turquoise produced by the Yungaishan Turquoise Mine in Yunxian County is of the best grade and is the most precious. This largest piece of turquoise is now in the Yunyang Turquoise Development Corporation of Hubei Province, waiting to be carved into a precious work of art.