Queen
Mother of the West and Her fairy peach Tree
(Xiwangmu
and Pantaoshu [西王母蟠桃樹])
Graduate
web
address
Year of production (Around 1636 ~ 1912 late period of the Qing Dynasty)
Size
(20cm x 16cm x 6cm)
Weight
(1.2kg)
Name
of jewelry (Green-White Natural Jadeite)
Production
method (Handmade)
Name
of product (Carving)
Material
form (I body type)
Content
: Taoist Queen Mother of the West, fairy peach Tree, fairy peaches, Axe, Deer,
Chrysanthemum
This Piece is composed
of Taoist Queen Mother of the West, fairy peach Tree and depicts the eternal
life of the Utopia world.
female
Immortal Robes's Strap is thin
like thread and was
represented as delicate and beautiful shape while being connected as if it's
about to be cut the thumb
and the index finger of the right hand touch
each other and three
fingers wrapped an Axe and
the
fairy peach tree is carried on her shoulder, showing stable
composition. The thumb, middle and ring finger of the left hand grasped
the
fairy peach branches and the leaves
and
also, the
index finger and the little
finger opened straight, well expressing the elegant and beautiful appearance
of female
Immortal.
The
fairy
peach tree's stems and branches
were represented in harmony like a coiled
dragon's
body and well represented the heavenly world and fruit symbolically by carving
the upper part of fairy peach swollen while expressing 23 fairy peaches, the
core of this work, The Taoist positive
perfect number 25 is expressed by adding 23 fairy peaches, 1 fairy peach tree
and 1 Taoist Queen Mother of the West heavenly
body.
Proportionally, fairy
peaches are as big as a duck egg and one part of it is swollen and it is well
represented in green and a round shape. Fairy peach's leaves are positioned in
the right place harmonizing with fairy peach and the axe showed the highest
dignity, authority of Taoist Queen Mother of the West, the Deer was represented
as the psychic messenger between a god and human and chrysanthemums as a noble,
sublime man who has a connection with the
sky.
Completely carved in
round, Queen
Mother of the West and fairy peach Tree shows
extremely, exquisitely, Superbly ultimate jadeite Carvings. Before 1900 years,
there were no electric cutting tools and useful
abrasive
so Carvings were bound to be produced by handwork with traditional
tools.
therefore, a lot of time was required and
a
jadeite-carver's soul and passion were inherent.
Since even a small
mistake was not allowed in the course of work, we can see the coexistence of
instant moment and long-time endurance.
It is matchless treasure carved with miraculous tools by Taoist Immortal,
Throughout the entire
world and China, there have been no works made by exactly matching Taoist
Queen
Mother of the West and fairy peach Tree, fairy
peach etc. with Taoist mythology and furthermore, there have been no works
carved with natural jadeite into one body perfectly and
faultlessly.
In the Qing
Dynasty, Queen Mother of the
West
appears as the goddess of perfect love and
beauty. her face is decorated
brightly and kindly, Especially
tying up
bueatiful
topknot(a Ornamental
hairpin and hair design
style),
stereotypical high forehead, sloping
eyebrows, phoenix eyes, cherry mouth, splendidly,
her hands
and
fingers slimly and
stylishly,
as
for the
costume,
the strap of female
Immortal Robes, etc.
beautifully and wonderfully off-shoulder which make the figure looks
more slender and weaker and deer and chrysanthemum etc.
appear.
According to related
study literatures and pieces in Qing Dynasty Especially, it is expressed well
in Queen
Mother of the West Painting (西王母圖, owned by the
Japanese Foundation Chokaido Museum 日本 財團法人澄懷堂美術館藏), mágū(麻姑) offering up fairy
peach for Queen Mother of the West
Painting(麻姑獻壽圖) of Lengmei(冷枚 1662–1742
Qing Dynasty court painter), in Rainbow
skirt in Jade lake Painting (瑤池霓裳圖 owned by the
Chinese Tiānjīnyìshù Museum 中國 天津艺术博物馆), mágū(麻姑)
offering up fairy peach
for Queen
Mother of the West Painting(麻姑獻壽圖) of Renxun(任薰 1835-1893
Qing Dynasty court painter) these works are matched with it and estimated to
have been made in the Qing Dynasty.
Lengmei(冷枚)`s works
http://www.360doc.com/content/14/0220/10/4587780_354120321.shtml
Renxun(任薰)`s works
Also,
Queen
Mother of the West,
fairy
peach
, and deer, etc. appear on top of péngláixiānjìng
yùshí
xiānjìng
(蓬萊仙境
玉石仙台),
one
of national treasure jade articles of the Palace Museum in
Beijing
péngláixiānjìng yùshí
Xiāntái
蓬莱仙境玉石仙台，清光绪二十年（1894年)
According to national
treasure jade file in Qing dynasty(淸宮玉雕珍賞國寶档案)
dated
October 5, 2010 at Chinese CCTV, péngláixiānjìng
yùshí
xiānjìng
is
one of Queen
Mother of the West
articles
produced go late Qing dynasty jade masters, which produced Queen
Mother of the West's
face as Empress Dowager Cixi, offered as a gift for her
birthday.
(Empress
Dowager Cixi deified herself comparing to Queen
Mother of the West
to maintain 46 years'
absolute power, also, court jade masters carved Queen
Mother of the West
(government
jade carving) similar to Empress Dowager Cixi. Queen
Mother of the West
and
fairy
peach
tree
was produced during that time, presumed as Kūnlún
mountain Queen
Mother of the West
In the Qing Dynasty of Qianlong Emperor Period (After
1736) to face a cultural renaissance, jade ornaments(玉器),
jewelry and accessories were made and
spread out to across the country Ornaments
are Tripod Censer and Cover(三足爐), Cylindrical Brushpot (筆筒), jewelry and accessories are finger ring,
Ruyi(如意) Ornamental hairpin etc
jade carvings were hardly for human however with the
other materials(Rhinoceros Horns, bamboo, ivory) Queen Mother of the
West(西王母),
South pole star(南極星),
Margot(麻姑),
Eight Immortals Zhōng Líquá(锺离权),
Zhāng Guǒlǎo(张果老),
Lǐ Tiěguǎi(李鐵拐),
Hán Xiāngzǐ (韩湘子),
Lǚ Dòngbīn(吕洞宾),
Cáo Guójiù(曹国舅),
Lán Cǎihé(蓝采和),
Hé xiāngū(何仙姑)
of works are very few produced
Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree
was produced during late
Qing dynasty, 1800 ~ 1900, to complete this product as government jadeite carved
by the court jade masters, 2 jade masters (major jade master, assistant jade
master) worked around over 20 or 30 years
since
1750s, mid Qianlong
emperor,
Jade culture for imperial
family in court
(皇家玉)
was changed to jadeite from jade. Court jade masters mainly produced jadeite
carvings rather than white jade carving and created lots of masterpiece jadeite
carvings, which culture came to create masterpiece jadeite carvings in late Qing
dynasty (1850 ~ 1911), influenced by Empress Dowager
Cixi.
The material of
Queen
Mother of the West carving
below, exhibited in the British Museum, is ivory(象牙).
It is highly acknowledged with value of work considering carving technique of
1700s during that period, however only the theme of Chinese best hermit
Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach,
it had been symbolized as a masterpiece. (Queen
Mother of the West is
holding peach tree branch and 2 peaches.) The British Museum translated the
original copy on the interpretation of Queen
Mother of the West during Chinese Yuan
dynasty, Ming dynasty, and Qing dynasty. For more detailed content, please click
below web address.
Chinese works
of British Museum
"Ivory figure of
Xiwangmu"
China, Qing dynasty, probably Kangxi
period (1662-1722)
Queen mother of the West
Xiwangmu, the Queen Mother of the West,
is one of China's most popular goddesses, and one of the oldest. She featured in
the Daoist classic by Zhuangzi, part of which was written in the fourth century
BC, though she achieved her greatest prominence in later times. She symbolises
long life and is the patron goddess of women.
Xiwangmu is shown with a characteristic
phoenix headdress (associated with her since at least the Yuan dynasty, AD
1279-1368) and peach spray. Peaches signify long life in China. According to
legend, in Xiwangmu's paradise, in the Kunlun Mountains to the West, there are
peaches which blossom only once every three thousand years and confer
immortality to those who eat them.
The
carving in this figure is sharper and more detailed than many others of its
time. It is possibly an early export figure from the southern province of
Guangdong (Canton).
This
figure is one of only two Chinese ivory figure carvings in the collection of Sir
Hans Sloane, the founding collection of the British Museum. The other is a
figure of Chi She.
W.
Watson (ed.), Chinese
ivories from the Shang
(London, Oriental Ceramic Society, Sotheby Publications, 1984)
J.
Rawson (ed.), The British
Museum book of Chi
(London, The British Museum Press, 1992)
S. Jenyns, Chinese art: the minor
arts, vol. 2 (London,
1965
2.
Comparison with jadeite carving masterpieces
Jadeite
experts evaluated Jadeite
Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白寀,
below picture) The National Palace Museum in Taiwan
Taiwan
as the best masterpiece of the period, and evaluate Empress Dowager Cixi
possession jadeite national treasure jade article 17 pieces(below picture)
produced during Qing dynasty and 4 national treasure jade articles (below
picture) produced in modern time as the greatest masterpiece.
Taipei National Palace
Museum
Cixi Jadeite
Carvings introdution
However,
Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree
is much greater jadeite
carving when compared to the
above national treasures. Because, Chinese Taoist culture began from the year
6,000, record on Queen
Mother of the West in
山海经(Shānhǎijīng), Taoist culture geography book began from
(西周xīzhōu),
which is before B.C. 1,200, also, fairy
peach, fairy peach tree,
etc. of many ancient books from AD 200 with
(Historicity),
story and whole composition for Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree(Value of work), rarity of jadeite article that carved human character(Scarcity),
magnificent and elegant Queen
Mother of the West`s face, body, Robes, exquisite and delicate pairy peach, leaves, brilliant deer(Artistry),
as explained in the above definitely explain why it is the world
masterpiece over the Chinese jadeite article history, which is an eternal
masterpiece of today.
When
simply comparing Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree
and
Jadeite
Cabbage with Insects
(翠玉白寀 cuìyù
báicài),
Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree
is based on the best hermit of Chinese Taoist culture, regarding the theme of jadeite
article, which is longevity eternal peach that everyone wished to possess,
however Jadeite
Cabbage with Insects
is based on the Chinese cabbage and grasshopper, a theme of nature.
(However, Jadeite
Cabbage with Insects
has a story that it was discovered in Empress Dowager Cixi Tomb. )
As
the result that World famous professor, Dr. Tseng
Su-liang
(曾肅良),
who majored in Chinese art history, visited Korea for 2 days, August 31 ~
September 1, 2015, and appraised the real article after primarily appraising the
photo and video of Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree,
it was definitely verified to be the work of late Qing dynasty. This is the web
address of Taiwan National College of Education and Graduate School where
professor Dr. Tseng
Su-liang
is
posted.
Concrete
evidences based on which dr. Dr. Tseng
Su-liang
(曾肅良)
determined Queen
Mother of the West and
fairy
peach
tree
was
produced during late Qing dynasty(18th~ 19th century) were, ① surface is regular and
smooth as the classical tool manufacture on the jade surface through microscope
investigation (if it was modern electric tool, jade ite surface would have
rotating lines trace and levels.), ② there are small holes
on the jadeite surface, abrasive quartz remains, ③ oxidized crystal was
formed in small holes due to interaction between steel powder of traditional
tool, abrasive powder quartz, etc. which had been minutely left on the jade
surface, particularly, in case of Jadeite where oxidized crystals exist, such
oxidized crystal phenomenon cannot be operated with modern science,
④ carvings based on open work and relief work are thin, exquisite, and minute, difficult to manufacture with electric tool, and ⑤ carvings (Queen Mother of the West, fairy peach, fairy peach tree, peach leaf, deer, chrysanthemum) are based on late Qing period style, particularly, peach leaf is in typical Qing dynasty style, etc.
④ carvings based on open work and relief work are thin, exquisite, and minute, difficult to manufacture with electric tool, and ⑤ carvings (Queen Mother of the West, fairy peach, fairy peach tree, peach leaf, deer, chrysanthemum) are based on late Qing period style, particularly, peach leaf is in typical Qing dynasty style, etc.
Web
address
Dr. Su-liang
Tseng(曾肅良 博士)
Dr,
School of
Museum Studies,
University of
Leicester ,
UK Institute of
Art
History , National Taiwan Normal University
3.
Court jade masters
China had jade
masters(玉匠)
in the court(宮廷)
since the ancient period, those jade accessories and jade bowls that the jade
masters manufactured were offered mainly to the imperial family noble men and
the emperor, also, jade masters produced jade cloth(玉衣) for
the death of the emperor and imperial noble men, jade cloth is the
shroud(殮服) for
funeral, made from the belief that the body would not decay and the soul would
not die if one wears(佩用)
jade.(西京雜誌)
Baidu
encyclopedia
The
emperor used jade cloth threaded with gold- thread (金縷玉衣),
jade cloth was completed by producing about 2,500 jade pieces (size rectangle
about 8cm x 5cm x 5mm), making holes in around 4 jade pieces, weaving jade
pieces with gold thread, which was completed with 3 years' work of 100 jade
masters based on the jade article handicraft level. Jade cloth is presumed to
have manufactured since B.C. 3.)
Wearing(佩用)
of jade accessories and possession of jade articles during the Chinese warring
states period took an important role in determining the status of feudal king
and government officials, which influenced general people, also became the
origin of idiom literarily.
4.
Forgery of antique
Currently in China, countless antique forgeries such as ancient painting, ceramics, bronze articles, etc. are produced a day in Beijing (北京) and Xi'an (西安). Those forgeries are traded in each antique market in China mixed with the original, Panjawian (瀋家園) of Beijing is most famous for selling lots of genuine articles and forgeries.
Forgery dispute has
existed also in famous Chinese auction company, not only antique market, in 2011
below modern jade chair was appraised as Han(漢)
dynasty antique (漢代靑黄玉龍鳳紋化粧臺),
accordingly, auctioned off with around 32 million Usd, as much as 100 times of
current price. Jade chair that caused forgery dispute
Baidu
encyclopedia
Leezchunyang, a
professor of Beijing Central People's University, world authority of appraising
antique, determined that Chinese antique market is flooded with forgeries and
imitations, also, 95% of ceramics are forgeries.
However,
jade articles mostly coincide with production period, nevertheless there are
some cases that modern small animal sculptures and incense burners, carved
simple and crude excluding value of work and artistry, were traded by being
appraised and auctioned off through turning to those produced during Qing
dynasty and Ming dynasty.
However, production
period of ancient jade articles based on artistry is over 10 years or specialty
of completing over the generation, also, which are made of original gemstone,
raw materials were not processed primary differently from ceramic, paper, silk,
and steel, etc.
Due
to the characteristic of natural gemstone, only 1 mistake might ruin the whole
work which had been produced for 10 years or the whole life, which has specialty
different from other art works. Ancient jade articles with perfect artistry are
created through great time and efforts, accordingly they have rarity, also,
those completed jade articles bear no dispute on period fabrication in reality,
furthermore, forgery dispute regarding the original, forgery, and counterfeit is
even more impossible.
5. Experts in Jade
sculptures and evaluation of masterpiece
When investigating
national treasure (below picture) jade articles produced with classical tools
during Qing dynasty, jadeite masters injected lots of time and efforts, and the
jadeite articles were produced by 2 jade masters for at least 10 years, among
them, some are presumed to have taken over 30 years.
When investigating jade
production time considering classical tools, abrasive, and processing technique
of Qing dynasty, it took about 3 hours by 2 jade masters to
perforate(穿孔)
a circle hole of 3mm diameter with 5mm thickness.
We
salute on the jade article production that takes a long time this way, also the
birth of exquisite, delicate, elegant and brilliant masterpiece as below with
amazement at superhuman skill and efforts of jade masters.
However, in modern period, unexpectedly, there are few experts who have discernment to differentiate ancient jade articles(古玉器) produced by classical cutting and polishing (切磋琢磨) method or discern modern jade articles manufactured by imitating ancient jade articles with modern electric tool. Also, according to famous jade experts' determination on masterpiece, masterpiece jadeite articles should be definitely established with the concept of jade article, each cast Carvings should be carved delicately and brilliantly based on the concept, and beauty and refined Chinese taste should be expressed from the completed jade article.
If
the jadeite article is inherent with artistry, value of work, rarity, and
historicity, and has refined Chinese taste, value of the article is considerable
even it is a modern product, considering the specialty of jade
article. 4 Chinese national
treasure jade articles(岱岳奇观)、含香聚瑞、群芳览胜)、四海腾欢)
were all produced in
1980s, however they were appointed as Chinese national treasure jade
articles.
Chinese
national 4
treasure jadeite
Carvings
When investigating jade articles that
world number one fine arts auction companies submitted during 1980 to 2012, and
Chinese fine art auction companies during 2000 to 2010, there's almost no value
of work or artistry, but the jade articles mainly with antique beauty added with
simple stories.
Nevertheless the jade articles produced in Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty, and Qing dynasty, those that depend on ancient beauty(古態美) and subjective esthetic sense without definite theme have already reached the limitation in artistry of jade article and price competitiveness, however the imperial treasure added with simple story recorded highest price or most of them were composed of incense burner, etc. produced by Qing dynasty jade masters, even they have been exhausted since 2012.
Sotheby's and
Christies, world famous fine arts auction companies, submitted Chinese jade
articles leaning too much to antique beauty of story or very restrictedly due to
too much worry about forgery, also, due to limited submission to those that they
already sold or based on genealogy which was sold by the other company in the
same field as a method based on safety, jade articles with artistry has
disappeared since 2013.
However,
Chinese fine arts auction companies is gradually progressing a direction to
release masterpiece jade articles bearing risk by changing the direction to the
artistry and value of work of the jade articles themselves boldly excluding
genealogy since 2010. (As in the above, when the jade articles were submitted
based on artistry and value of work excluding genealogy, there were some
incidents as Jade Chair, however big stream of initial submission of masterpiece
jade article would be continued.)
Since China has grown to be number 1 of
the world in respect of 41% of domination over the world fine arts auction
market already in 2010, which has
established a solo system in 2014 by occupying 50% of the world market. (In
2010, world fine arts auction market domination rate of the U.S. is 24%, Britain
19%.) In this circumstance, major Chinese fine arts auction companies have grown
by being fully supported by Chinese government, also, most of highest price fine
art works are Chinese. China is presently constructing 1,000 museums from 2010
to 2025, concentratedly growing cultural industry to become a cultural power,
which is related to domination rate over the world fine arts auction
market.
Henceforth, there's a
great possibility that jade articles would be the highest price record in
Chinese fine arts auction within 10 years. Because, as in the above, jade
article is one item of Chinese ancient fine art works in the situation that
China is concentratedly growing cultural industry, also, leading item can be
jade article in the circular changing phenomenon of ancient fine arts auction
culture, and it is natural considering cultural emotion of China on jade
articles. So far the articles
that have lead ancient fine arts have been still ceramics.
Jade
articles have been daily necessities as well as belief that have been with
Chinese people's life, which have cultural pride created since the ancient
country before Bronze-ware culture, also, they has the essential condition to be
evaluated higher than other fine art works, as they appear in Chinese ancient
book and history.
6. Origin and impact of Taoist Queen Mother of the West
According
to 玄中記, 十洲記, 拾遺記, 神異經, shān hǎi jīng(山海經) of 西山慶,
西次三經,
海內北經,大荒西經 Queen
Mother of the West
appears
in
as
half-man-half-beast in Chinese Taoist mythology and it is said that she has a
human face, leopard’s tail and tiger’s teeth and is good at whistling and ‘lives
in jade lake palace of jade mountain at the top of numinous Mt.
Kunlun
in the west end’. Mt. Kunlun is a holy mountain rising in the Yellow River and a
big mountain at the end of the western sea, behind Red Water and in front of
Black Water. From the first, Mt. Kunlun means a very high
mountain.
Queen Mother of the West
appears in the center, sitting between dragon and
tiger(龍,虎) in
the ancient relief sculpture, besides, the animals as blue
birds(三靑鳥)
toad(蟾蜍),
three-legded crow(三足烏),
nine-tailed fox(九尾狐),
drug pounding rabbit, etc. are placed up down left right side, each positioned
animals are Queen
Mother of the West
safeguard warriors(侍衛武士),
which as auspicious(祥瑞)
beings.
Hermits(仙人)
holding stick(笏記)
left and right of the bottom and praying person, etc. are the hermits or the
wise man who sought the
elixir of life(长生不老药)
from Queen
Mother of the West,
in other relief sculptures, male and female are divided in the figure of half
man and half snake(人身蛇尾人) or
(蛇身人首),
which are guessed as 伏羲(fúxī)
and 女媧(nǚwā
) of
Chinese myth 三皇五帝
(SānHuángWǔDì).
wikipedia Queen
Mother of the West
Originally, as the goddess of fate, Taoist Queen
Mother of the West controls the disasters of the heavens and epidemics etc. and
is in charge of
five kinds of cruel punishment
such as cutting a nose or hands and feet etc., The
West(Xi,西)
of
Queen
Mother of the West
refers to the west and symbolically means a place where the sun sets and
represents darkness, horror, disaster, punishment, death etc.
and
Queen Mother(wang-mu, 王母) is
the mother of all Taoist Immortals.
(For
reference, five kinds of cruel punishment are Mukhyeong
[punishment of writing letters on the forehead with ink], Gyuhyeong
[punishment of cutting the nose], Bihyeong
[punishment of cutting the heel], Gunghyeong
[punishment of eliminating reproductive ability] and Daebyeokyeong
[punishment of executing a person].)
Queen Mother of the West
was
the supervisor of disaster and punishment, who commanded four gods
(四神),
god of sun(日神) and
god of moon(月神),
as the goddess of life and death with absolute power of eternal life
immortality, Chinese ancient Queen
Mother of the West
culture
greatly influenced folk belief and fold culture formation of east, south, and
north Asia.
After
beginning to appear in zhúshūjìnián(竹书纪年) and shān hǎi jīng(山海經) as Goddess of
Fate in around BC400, she appears as Goddess of Love in around BC 200 and is
changed
to
Goddess
of Life with the power of eternal life who can overcome death at the Han Dynasty
(202 ~ AD 220) and then she is changed from God to
Taoist Immortal. Reborn as Goddess of eternal life and
female Immortal
of love and beauty, she has been worshipped until now. Called
Tiānmu-niángniang(天母娘娘), wang-mu
-niángniang
(王母娘娘)
etc., she is blessed in wang-muci
(王母祠)
all over China.
7.
Taoist
fairy
peach Tree
In
Mt. Kunlun
where Queen
Mother of the West
lives, there is a peach field called Pántáo-yuán(蟠桃園)
and it is said that ‘there are 3,600 peach trees’. The peach trees are called as
Pántáo-shù(蟠桃樹)
because peach tree trunks are in the form of the coiled dragon shape. It is said
that the size of fairy
peach Tree
came to the heavens because it holds green water in Jade lake. (It is said that
in Garden of Queen
Mother of the West,
there is a very beautiful lake called Jade lake and the entire area is made of
green jade and the lake water is also green.)
The water of the lake
starts from Xuánpǔ(玄圃) of Mt. Kunlun, through Jade River located on the right
side flows to the jade Lake
8. fairy
peach, Jade lake's banquet and Meeting with Emperor Wǔ of Hàn
It is
said that the fruit
of fairy
peach Tree
is fairy
peach
and it takes three
thousand
years for flowers to bloom, three thousand years for fruits to come into
bearing, three thousand years for them to ripen etc. requiring
nine thousand years in total. The
size is as big as a duck egg and It is green even when it has
ripened.
Fairy
peach is green because of the green water it's holding.
Also,
Fairy
peach is a little bit double rounded on one side of stalk end and swollen on the
other side of it.
the
swollen end of
fairy
peach
means women’s nipples and the stalk end at the bottom means women’s hips because
peach is a fruit that symbolizes women. Also
in this work, fairy
peach
was expressed as the fruit for female
Immortal
and the meaning was expressed as the wish of immortality and eternal life of
modern men and hope to seek the salvation of pure souls by regression to the
mother's womb. People say that if eating one fairy
peach,
the person can live for eighteen thousand years.
Dōngfāngshuò(东方朔), who lived under the reign of
Wu-ti(武帝) of Chinese
Han(汉),
is
said
to have lived for eighteen thousand years after sneaking into Peach field of Mt.
Kunlun and stealing
10 fairy
peaches.
Cháng'é(嫦娥),
God of moon, also stole two (2) elixir of life that her husband HòuYì(后羿
egendary archer) received from Queen
Mother of the West
and ran away to the moon.
the elixir is said to be fairy
peach
(Cháng'é
bēn yuè 嫦娥奔月, if each person eats 1 fairy
peach,
they can live ever-young and if a person eats 2 alone, the person can
be Immortal
and go up to the sky and Cháng'é runs away to the moon with 2 fairy
peaches
while her husband is out. Cháng'é who betrayed her husband is said to have lost
her beautiful appearance and changed in the form of a toad.)
Also,
not invited to Jade lake party, Sūn Wù kōng(孙悟空) of Journey to the West (Xi yóu
jì, 西游記) also
sneaked
into fairy
peach
field and stole fairy
peach
but was trapped in Bāguàlú(八卦炉) for forty nine days(49 days) as a punishment and
after escaping, he was captured again and trapped in Mt. Wǔxíngshān(五行山) for
five hundred years (Xi yóu jì, 西游記 Journey to the
West)
Birthday
of Queen
Mother of the West is
March 3rd of the lunar calendar
at That time, Margot(麻姑)
and eight Immortals
Zhōng Líquá(锺离权), Zhāng Guǒlǎo(张果老), Lǐ Tiěguǎi(李鐵拐), Hán Xiāngzǐ (韩湘子), Lǚ
Dòngbīn(吕洞宾), Cáo Guójiù(曹国舅), Lán Cǎihé(蓝采和), Hé xiāngū(何仙姑) came to celebrate
her birthday. At this time, Queen
Mother of the West
threw a
great party and served
delicious food for
them.
the foods were bear’s paws, monkey’s lips, dragon’s liver etc. and finally,
fairy
peaches
were
served.
Citing Hànwǔdì nèi
chuán(汉武帝内传) and Hàn wǔ gùsh(汉武故事) from the Chinese myth history, a Chinese
leading mythologist, Yuanku(袁珂), describes meeting
of Queen
Mother of the West
and Emperor Wǔ of Hàn
and
especially, on appearance and color of fairy
peach
as follows.
Baidu
encyclopedia Yuanku(袁珂)
‘Queen
Mother of the West
went up to the royal presence and sat toward the East and the pattern of a
golden jacket she was wearing was beautiful and vivid and her shining figure was
beautiful and dignified. She was wearing a large string of female
Immortal
Skirt‘s Strap and also wearing a holy sword at her waist,
a
Hairdo of
topknot
and
the
sacred crown on
her head and
shoes decorated with the Phoenix pattern plus black jade ornaments. She was
about
30
year-old woman who had a
midium
height,
a gentle appearance and her face looked matchlessly beautiful, really
numinous.
As
she came down from the royal float and came up to the flat
bench,
the Emperor knelt down, showed admiration and exchanged
greetings.
Then Queen
Mother of the West
called the Emperor to sit together and the Emperor sat down facing the
south. Queen
Mother of the West
served heavenly foods and the foods were truly miraculous and amazing and rich
and rare fruits plus all kinds of fragrant and colorful dishes, purple gromwells
and vegetables, stackable side-dish boxes filled with fragrant foods, alcohol of
clear fragrance, all of them were not foods of the human world and the scent was
too remarkable for the Emperor to describe in words.
Queen Mother of the
West
let the court maid bring down the peach. After a while, the court maid put 7
round and green peaches as big as a duck
egg on the jade tray and gave them to Queen
Mother of the West.
And
then she gave
four to the Emperor and ate three. They tasted sweet in the mouth.
(又命侍女更素桃果 須臾
以玉盤盛仙桃七顆
大如鴨卵 形圓靑色 以呈王母 王母以四顆與帝 三顆自食 桃味甘美
口有盈美 袁珂 quoting 
中國神話史[Chinese myth
history] hàn wǔ gùshi[漢武故事],
hànwǔdì nèi
chuán[漢武帝內傳])
中國神話史[Chinese myth
history] hàn wǔ gùshi[漢武故事],
hànwǔdì nèi
chuán[漢武帝內傳])
Whenever eating one, the
king put the seeds in his bag. When Queen
Mother of the West
asked him why, the Emperor answered, ‘I am trying to plant the seeds,’
then
Queen Mother of the West
said, ‘this peach bears the fruit once in 3000 years and even if planted, they
cannot survive in the sterile Chinese land.‘ So the Emperor stopped.
After
having a glass of wine
or two, Queen
Mother of the West
let the court maid and princes etc. play many musical instruments
All
these
sounds were clearly harmonized and the spiritual
sounds resounded in the sky.
(Key words: Chinese myth
history, Chinese mythology stories, shān hǎi jīng(山海經), Huái nán zǐ(淮南子) cháng'é
bēn yuè(嫦娥奔月), mù tiānzǐ chuán(穆天子傳), hàn wǔ gùshi(漢武故事), hànwǔdì nèi
chuán(漢武帝內傳), shén xiān chuán(神仙傳), Xīyóujì(西遊記), 玄中記, 十洲記, 拾遺記, 神異經,
chūn
xiāng chuán(春香傳), shěn qīng chuán (沈淸傳), xǔ lán xuě xuān píngzhuàn(許蘭雪軒評傳)
etc.)
9. Origin and
types of Jade
The
word Jade was originated from a common Indian kingfisher and it is a bird of
Coraciiformes lcedinidae. Jade was named after the feathers of this bird and the
meaning and sound of Chinese characters are a common Indian kingfisher with red
feathers fěi(翡) and
a common Indian kingfisher with green feather cuì(翠) and
the correct name is hóng fěi lǜ
cuì(紅翡綠翠)
Oriental concept of jade is not only one mineral but
precious minerals used for accessories and crafts are all named jade, also, ruby
is named red jade, sapphire is called blue jade, nephrite is called light green
jade, and jade is called jadeite.
In the West, people
generally call jade (Jadeite, Nephrite) as JADE and it was named as “Piedra De
Ijada” meaning “Colic Stone” to see that when Spain invaded in Mexico, native
people warmed it and wrapped around the waist to treat kidney disease. Dr.
Monardes of Spain first wrote it as letters in 1569 and then, it was changed
into IJADA and then IJDDE and now used as JADE.
On
the other hand, a mineralogist, professor A. Damour classified jade into
Nephrite and then determined Jadeite as an independent mineral in 1863. However,
though different minerals from the mineralogical perspective, Nephrite and
Jadeite are collectively used as Jade because they have been customarily used
for a long time.
As seen earlier, there
are two types of jade, Nephrite and Jadeite. First, Jadeite is Pyroxene family
mineral also called as jadeite and usually has a beautiful color of Emerald
Green (Green Jadeite) and mainly used as ornaments such as rings or brooches
etc. Its hardness is 7 and it is harder than Nephrite and is used as jewelry due
to its beautiful color and expensive. Prior to the Ching Dynasty, very small
amount was excavated in some regions of China but rarely used as trinkets and
ornaments.
Green
jadeite began to be imported in earnest after the 17th century. The chief
producing district of green jadeite is Myanmar (former Burma) and it was found
in Metamorphic rocks dykes of Ur Valley near Yunnanju Mogaung, the Border area
in northern China. After starting to be known as Yunnan Jade because the border
line between China and Myanmar was not clear for a long time, the Chinese
dominated and mined green jadeite mines and therefore, the chief producing
district was thought as China. In 1951, the border was clearly set and the above
areas are all located in Myanmar. Jadeite has several colors such as green,
orange red, yellow, purple, brown, red etc. and before the Ching Dynasty,
vermilion was mainly meant.
The
finest green jadeite produced in Myanmar is called Imperial Jade, which has
translucent emerald green light, that displays fantastic heavenly color
(translucent dark green). Price of the finest green jadeite, mainly used for
jewellery, is more expensive than diamond, unimaginably expensive.
In
Hong Kong Sotheby's auction held in April, 2014, jade necklace produced late
Qing was auctioned off at around 214 million Hong Kong dollar, new owner of this
necklace harmonized with 27 jadeite beads was French luxury brand 'Cartier'.
(The auction experts expect Empress' jade necklace made of 108 jade beads, not
yet opened, would be auctioned off over 800million Hong Kong dollar.
sothebys auction`s
results
Composed of twenty-seven
graduated jadeite beads of highly translucent bright emerald green colour,
completed by a clasp set with calibré-cut rubies and baguette diamonds, mounted
in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold, length approximately 530mm, unsigned. Beads approximately
19.20 to 15.40mm.
Imperial
Russet Jadeite is the best among Jadeite until green Imperial Jadeite imported
from Myanmar(former Burma)before, however
Imperial Russet Jadeite was found in graves of An ancient Chinese imperial
court and high officials, so
many Jadeite experts recognize Imperial Russet Jadeite as the best among Jadeite
until today
Next, Nephrite is amphibole family mineral and its
hardness is 6 ~6.5 and is weaker than that of Jadeite but tenacity is stronger
so it was carved and used as beautiful ornaments such as plates, cups, jars etc.
since ancient times in China. There are a variety of colors such as white grey
or dark green etc. and translucent Nephrite was reborn as many works of art due
to its beauty. The chief producing district of Nephrite gemstone used in
sculpture in China is not known for sure but it has been mined in some provinces
such as Khotan of Central Asia xinjiang uyghur autonomous region
etc.
Among
them, jade sheep oily skin (羊脂玉),
evaluated as the best jade, or pure white jade(純白玉) are
mined in various production areas, jade of sheep oily skin, color is pure
white(白玉)
with gloss in the cover(外皮)
like sheep oil(羊脂)
lump, of which shape is like concretion of tissue
structure. Below
white jade stamp and vase are typical , jade sheep oily skin
(羊脂玉).
Above all, white square stamp is
sized length and breadth around 12.9 cm, auctioned off at at Sotherby's auction
in October, 2010 USD15,680,467,
white jade round stamp, sized height 6.4cm, auctioned off at USD12.290,000, the
vase, sized height 28 cm, was auctioned off at USD 4,274,265 at Christie's
auction in November, 2011.
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2010/an-important-private-collection-of-qing-historical-works-of-art-hk0342/lot.2103.html
sothebys auction`s
results
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/7569714/Sothebys-Chinese-art-auction-breaks-world-records.html sothebys auction`s
results
An imperial
white jade seal commissioned by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty in the 18th
century was sold to an Asian buyer for US$12.29 million ($8m) breaking the world
auction record for both white jade and imperial seals.
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/a-magnificent-imperial-white-jade-dragon-vase-5514260-details.aspx
christies auction`s
results
Also,
Russet Nephrite is traded with higher price than , jade sheep oily skin, since
it is not differentiated from Russet Jadeite with its appearance, below ancient
horn shape glass ( Archaistic Rhyton) is height 22.5cm, which was traded at
USD $776,436 at
Christie's auction in November, 2011.
christies auction`s
results
Furthermore, the
material quality formed with , jade sheep oily skin and Russet Jadeite are
popular with very unique material quality, 'Deer lying on the floor', sized
length about 14cm, auctioned off at USD 6,000,000 at British Dorset auction in
November, 2010.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-11-19/asians-battle-for-jade-at-record-168-million-chinese-auctions
10. Chinese love for
jade
Jade called as color of paradise to Chinese appears all walks of life. Carrying it in the body, all bad lucks go away and putting it in the house and office to bring good luck and as a gift that a man proposed to a woman, butterfly decorations are often presented.
We have briefly extracted phrases regarding jade from Chinese ancient books or history books.
Woolley &
Wallis auction`s
results
Jade called as color of paradise to Chinese appears all walks of life. Carrying it in the body, all bad lucks go away and putting it in the house and office to bring good luck and as a gift that a man proposed to a woman, butterfly decorations are often presented.
We have briefly extracted phrases regarding jade from Chinese ancient books or history books.
①
(禮記)
(玉藻篇),
(檀弓篇)
Noble
men should live with jade, virtue of noble men and jade are
similar.君子無故,
玉不去身.
君子於玉,
比德焉
Jade
does not become carving without polishing, people do not know truth without
learning.玉不琢
不成器
人不學
不知道
② Cutting and Drilling a hole, polishing(切磋琢磨) of (衛風篇) of the Book of Odes(詩經) and(學而篇) of the Analects of Confucious(論語)
If
one bathes and wears jade, good fortune comes. (沐浴佩玉則兆)
② Cutting and Drilling a hole, polishing(切磋琢磨) of (衛風篇) of the Book of Odes(詩經) and(學而篇) of the Analects of Confucious(論語)
a
favorite disciple of Confucius(子貢)
asked Confucius(孔子), as
a jade stone is cut, swept with a cord, pecked with a chisel, and polished by
grinding as in Book of Odes(cutting and polishing, four processes of producing
jade article[切磋琢磨]),
is learning knowledge or practicing virtue is same as jade producing
process,
Confucius said, Jagong, it's proper time to discuss the Book of Odes, you know
the future when you learned the past."
子貢曰 詩云 如切如磋 如琢如磨 其斯之謂與 子曰 賜也 始可 與言詩已矣 告諸往而知來 者.
子貢曰 詩云 如切如磋 如琢如磨 其斯之謂與 子曰 賜也 始可 與言詩已矣 告諸往而知來 者.
③
Sima
Qian History record (Sagui) (司马迁《史记》中,
廉颇蔺
相如列传其险恶
完璧歸趙)
Return
of perfection(完璧歸趙)
originated from an ancient event that(藺相如), a
vassal of the age of civil wars (趙)
dynasty returned with(和氏璧), a
precious jade carving, refusing (秦)
dynast king's demand with wit, who desired for it.
王必无人，臣愿奉璧往使.城入赵而璧留秦；城不入，臣请完璧归赵.赵王於是遂遣相如奉璧西入秦
Jade(玉) is
a round bead(球),
(璧) is
a jade article, round and flat as a coin, which has a hole in the center, and
(完璧),
combined with jade(璧) and
perfect(完)
means an excellent jade article without any defect small as a dust(瑕).
11. Xici and jade
As
a royal concubine of Emperor Hampung, Xici(1835.11.29.~ 1908.11.15.) bore Son
Jaesoon and was named as Xici and was also called as Empress Seo, Empress
Dowager jahui or Jahui Queen Mother. As the mother of Tóngzhìdì (1861~75 reign)
and stepmother of Emperor Guāngxù of Qīng (1875~1908 reign)
http://baike.baidu.com/view/5959.htm
Baidu encyclopedia Xiwangmu(西王母)
she ruled
the Ching empire for nearly half a century. She did not accept the new
civilization due to her reluctance for it and lived luxurious life. She
especially liked jade and her portrait tells that her gorgeousness went to
extremes. She decorated her hair with jade and wore a shoulder cloak with jade
beads and pearls and wore Jade bracelet on the wrist, jade ring in her finger
and even jade protection panel in the fingernails. She let servants set the
table with plates, cups, chopsticks made of jade and let them play with musical
instruments made of jade. She was the best mania of jade manias.
Since Emperor Qianlong,
China began to process Green Jadeite and use it as decorations in earnest and
celebrated cultural renaissance after extending the influence under the reign of
Kang Hsi, Emperor Yongzheng. At this time, several sovereign Princely States
paid tributes and some of the tributes were ornaments and sculptures of ‘Green
jade.’ Chinese people who had mostly watched only scarlet, brown, white until
then became fascinated by the beauty of green jade, brilliant emerald color and
the imperial family and nobles used it regularly from that time. It is said that
numerous jades paid as tributes have been stored in the palace.
After taking over the
reigns of the Ching Dynasty, Xici is said to have owned all imperial jades. It
is said that there was zhū bǎo fáng(珠寶房) within Summer Palace and Imperial
Garden(頤和園) where Tz'uhsi stayed and countless jades were kept in the zhū bǎo
fáng and she cherished Mt. Kunlun fairy peach (Disappeared after 1930, Queen
Mother of the West and Her fairy peach Tree is highly likely to be Mt. Kunlun
fairy peach), jade watermelon(Disappeared after 1930), Cabbage with Insects(翠玉白菜
cuìyù báicài Currently exhibited in National Palace Museum of Taiwan)
http://baike.baidu.com/subview/7379/9572580.htm
Baidu encyclopedia
Jade
articles preserved by the imperial family from Qianlong
emperor to the Xici Empress
reached around 50,000 pieces, among them jadeite carvings were 30,000 pieces,
and
jade
carvings were 20,000 pieces, however jade article mania were Qianlong and the Empress Xici,
accordingly, imperial family jade articles were actually collected by the two
persons.
She
died on 1908.11.15. and was buried in Zun hua qing dong ling(遵化清东陵) Tomb(located
in 400Km to the north from Beijing) and all the imperial jades and many
treasures were buried together. And then, it is said that in around 1930,
Cheongong Tomb was dug by the National Revolutionary Army and some of jades were
transferred to the Revolutionary Army and the rest jades many treasures were
missing. Some jades transferred to the Revolutionary Army are displayed in
National Palace Museum of Taiwan.
Baidu encyclopedia(孫殿英)
(History
records the initial tomb theft of bronze tomb as National revolutionary army Son
ex-military director, however it had been robbed several times by
regional, native
thieves
(土匪)
and Imperial tomb theft expert groups long ago, precious articles had been
leaked a lot, in the center, there are 馬福田,
etc.)
If
you are interested, please send us an e-mail.
관심있으신 분께서는 메일주시기 바랍니다.
Contact information in
Taiwan & China
Joy Hsu(Natural History
Museum in Korea Vice Head Curator )
Email. Joyhsutaiwan@gmail.com
Mobile Phone: +886.909.225588
Address: 13F, No. 25 Chunghsiao I Road, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
Xici `s
cherished 17 jadeite
carvings made at Qing
Dynasty during her
lifetime, They
have been designated as National Treasures Email. Joyhsutaiwan@gmail.com
Mobile Phone: +886.909.225588
Address: 13F, No. 25 Chunghsiao I Road, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
Empress Dowager Xici Jadeite carvings video
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