Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional stories - Jade embodies which two different aesthetic demands

Jade embodies which two different aesthetic demands

Jade is characterized by two different aesthetic demands: the beauty of the material and the beauty of the craftsmanship.

The beauty of stone is jade, which is the definition of jade in Chinese jade culture. Extremely broad, crystal, agate, amber, turquoise, lapis lazuli, jadeite, Hetian jade, Xiu jade, all belong to the category of jade. It is a natural material with a simple aesthetic.

The beauty of craftsmanship is that jade is not carved into a vessel, and a fine carving will give it a deeper level of thought and meaning. The giant jade carving of Dayu ruling the water and the Tongyin attendant Shanzi, both of which are hidden in the Palace Museum in Beijing, are outstanding representatives of this.