Distinguished colleagues and fellow jade enthusiasts, I am Zhao Yaqin. Having been involved in the jade industry for over thirty years, the study of ancient jade culture has always been a passion and a focus of mine. In the rapidly evolving landscape of academic exploration, our understanding of ancient jade continues to deepen. Today, I would like to share some of my latest perspectives in the field of ancient jade cultural research, hoping to spark further discussion and collectively contribute to the preservation and development of ancient jade culture.
For a long time, ancient jade research has primarily focused on traditional areas such as archaeology, art history, and materials science. However, with the advancement of technology and the integration of various disciplines, I have come to realize more profoundly that to truly decipher the cultural codes embedded in ancient jade, we must break free from conventional frameworks and incorporate more interdisciplinary perspectives.
Firstly, I want to emphasize the crucial role of "social anthropology" in ancient jade research. Ancient jades are not merely cold artifacts; they are microcosms of ancient society's politics, economy, religion, beliefs, and even daily life. In the past, we might have focused more on the form, motifs, and patination of jade artifacts. However, by integrating social anthropology's research into ancient social structures, power distribution, and ritual beliefs, we can gain a deeper understanding of the functions and meanings of ancient jade within their contemporary societies.
For instance, the discovery of the Hongshan Culture jade pig-dragon sparked extensive debate regarding its symbolic meaning. Traditional interpretations often viewed it through the lens of totem worship or fertility cults. But if we introduce a social anthropological perspective, combined with research on social stratification and shamanic beliefs during the Hongshan Culture period, we might find that the jade pig-dragon could be more than just a simple totem. It might have been an important ritual implement used by shamans, who held divine or secular power, during sacrificial ceremonies. Its mysterious and majestic form would then be a concrete manifestation of its power symbol. What it represented might have been a power to communicate with heaven and earth and control nature, rather than merely the image of an animal.
Secondly, "cognitive archaeology" offers us a new tool for understanding the thought patterns of ancient people. The shapes and motifs of ancient jade were not arbitrary; they embodied the ancient people's cosmology, philosophy of life, and aesthetics. Through cognitive archaeology methods, we can attempt to reconstruct the cognitive processes of ancient people when creating and using jade artifacts, understanding how they expressed ideas and conveyed information through jade.
Take the jade cong of the Liangzhu Culture as an example. Its outer square and inner circular shape, along with its intricate anthropomorphic and zoomorphic mask patterns, have always been a focal point of academic research. Traditional explanations often link it to concepts of heaven and earth and ancestor worship. However, from a cognitive archaeology perspective, we can further explore whether this complex pattern represents a complete cosmic schema. Do elements like the eyes and fangs in the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic mask patterns have specific symbolic meanings that could evoke certain emotions or cognitive responses deep within ancient people? It can even be hypothesized that these patterns might have been a visual "language," transmitting complex religious concepts and power information through the patterns on the jade cong in an era without written language. This interpretation elevates ancient jade from mere works of art to vehicles of thought, greatly enriching our understanding of the connotations of ancient jade.
Furthermore, the continuous development of "scientific archaeology" provides us with an unprecedented microscopic perspective. In the past, our identification and research of ancient jade primarily relied on visual observation and empirical judgment. Now, through modern scientific methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, we can conduct more precise analyses of the material sources, processing techniques, and patination formation mechanisms of ancient jade.
For example, research on the provenance of Xinjiang Hetian jade, through the analysis of trace elements in the jade material, can more accurately determine the raw material sources of ancient jade artifacts, thereby providing material evidence for studying ancient jade trade routes and cultural exchanges. Similarly, microscopic analysis of the patination on ancient jade surfaces can reveal the physicochemical processes of patination formation, and even help us distinguish between natural patination and artificial aging, which has significant practical value for authenticating ancient jade. Scientific archaeology is no longer merely an auxiliary tool; it has become a key instrument for uncovering the deep secrets of ancient jade.
Of course, interdisciplinary research also faces challenges. It requires researchers to possess a broader knowledge background and necessitates deep collaboration among experts from different disciplines. But it is precisely this challenge that gives rise to new research paradigms and deeper levels of understanding.
In summary, the study of ancient jade culture is moving from traditional "artifactology" to the broader realm of "cultural anthropology." We are no longer content with "what it is," but also seek to understand "why" and "how it influenced." By introducing diverse perspectives such as social anthropology, cognitive archaeology, and scientific archaeology, we can more comprehensively and deeply decipher the cultural codes carried by ancient jade and reconstruct the true picture of ancient society.
Looking ahead, I suggest that ancient jade researchers actively embrace interdisciplinary collaboration and break down disciplinary barriers. At the same time, I also call on relevant institutions and platforms to provide more support and resources for interdisciplinary research. Only in this way can we allow ancient jade, this treasure of Chinese civilization, to shine even brighter in the new era, allowing more people to appreciate its unique cultural charm and profound historical value. Thank you all.