Characteristics of Jade Carved Toad in Liao and Jin Dynasties

Characteristics of multilayer carving.

Liao and Jin crafts inherited the tradition of jade making since the Tang Dynasty, with ingenious design and fine processing, including round carving, carved flowers, piece carving, bas-relief and pretty colors. Moreover, Liao and Jin jade carving techniques are very skilled, generally based on multi-layer carving. The lines of the intaglio lines are wide and thin, both rigid and flexible, and the short and rigid intaglio lines in the Tang Dynasty are basically gone.

The golden toad, also known as the three-legged golden toad, is a three-legged toad in the Moon Palace in China mythology. The ancients believed that the golden toad was an auspicious thing, which could make a fortune. There is also a folk saying that "those who get the golden toad are rich", so the golden toad has become the most common auspicious mascot nowadays.

Lucky golden toad can be divided into two types: copper coin in mouth and copper coin in mouth. Although these two kinds only depend on the existence of copper coins, they are very different for Feng Shui. For a golden toad with a copper coin in his mouth, putting his head indoors means that the money does not flow away, but flows into the room. A golden toad without a copper coin in its mouth is the opposite. His head should face the door, but it should be slightly tilted, which will make money.