The Spring and Autumn Period to the Western Han Dynasty

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During the early Spring and Autumn Period, jade-carving, with various linear designs, carried on most of the traditions of the late Western Zhou. This period witnessed the second period of the flourishing of jade carving. New kinds of jade articles were increasingly created to meet two trends that appeared in the period. One was that ornamental jade prevailed ritual jade, and the other was that jade was widely used as funerary objects in aristocratic burials. As for the motif of jade-carving, the main jade decorative designs in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period were dragons or beasts similar to dragons in various postures, often entwined or interlocked. The carving was delicately inscribed. The designs in the Western Han Dynasty, however, became simpler and terser and more fluid, with a prevalence of vivid animal motifs.

The Development of Chinese Jade Carving

Jade is loosely understood in China as the collective name for most precious stones, and jade carving in this sense constitutes an important part of Chinese arts and crafts.

The Neolithic Period

The Neolithic Period

During the Neolithic Period, various regional cultures in China produced their own characteristic jade ritual implements and ornaments.
The Shang Dynasty

The Shang Dynasty

In order to consolidate the state power under the political system and solidify their high-handed rule through the administration by rites...
The Western Zhou Dynasty

The Western Zhou Dynasty

The mid-Western Zhou period saw great changes in jade jewelry.
The Eastern Han Dynasty to the Northern and Southern Dynasties

The Eastern Han Dynasty to the Northern and Southern Dynasties

Jadewares in the Eastern Han Dynasty were transformed and developed from the Western Han Dynasty, but the variety and quantity both declined.
The Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty ruled for 300 years, a time which marked the zenith of China's feudal society.
The Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties

The Song, Liao and Jin Dynasties

This period witnessed a fast development of economy in the cities. As a result, jades were more frequently used in daily life and a genre of sculpted toy jade pieces appeared.
The Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

The Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

This period saw an expanding jade handicraft industry. Jade had never before been used so preponderantly for decorative, ornamental and connoisseur purposes.